"May it be the happiest year you have ever known." She looked around the room as if she expected to see some one else present; then, looking up at me, she said, with the happy look I loved to see, "And I heartily return your wish, Mr.Blake." There was no coldness, no restraint in her voice.

She spoke as if she was glad to see me, and wanted me to know it.

Instantly a burden rolled away from my heart, and for a few minutes I was the happiest of men.
Presently I heard voices at the library door, and immediately Miss Forrest's kindness and cheerfulness vanished, and those who entered the room must have fancied that I was annoying her with my company.

I remained in the room a few minutes longer, but she was studiously cold and polite to me, so that when I made a pretence of going out to the stables to see a new horse Tom Temple had bought, I did so with a heavy heart.
I had no sooner entered the stable-yard than Simon Slowden appeared, and beckoned to me.
"I looked hout for yer honour all day yesterday," he said, "but you lay like a hare in a furze bush.

Things is looking curious, yer honour." "Indeed, Simon.