Now will you confide in me ?" '"I confide in you!" I cried, looking at him with amazement; "why, you are not older than I am!" '"Yes I am, three years at least.

You, my ward, are not sixteen.

I, your worshipful guardian, am almost nineteen years of age." 'Upon hearing this I looked at him, for that seemed then a venerable age; but the more I looked the more I doubted, although he was dressed quite like a man.

He led me in a courtly manner, stepping at his tallest to an open place beside the water; where the light came as in channel, and was made the most of by glancing waves and fair white stones.
'"Now am I to your liking, cousin ?" he asked, when I had gazed at him, until I was almost ashamed, except at such a stripling.

"Does my Cousin Lorna judge kindly of her guardian, and her nearest kinsman?
In a word, is our admiration mutual ?" '"Truly I know not," I said; "but you seem good-natured, and to have no harm in you.