Gravesend　while　Reginald　Falcon　was　smoking　at　his　front　window。
  He　saw　her；　and　instantly　doffed　his　dressing…gown　and　donned　his
  coat　to　follow　her。　　He　was　madly　in　love　with　her；　and　being　a　man
  who　had　learned　to　shoot　pigeons　and　opportunities　flying；　he
  instantly　resolved　to　join　her　in　her　walk；　get　her　clear　of　the
  town；　by　the　sea…beach；　where　beauty　melts；　and　propose　to　her。
  Yes；　marriage　had　not　been　hitherto　his　habit；　but　this　girl　was
  peerless：　he　was　pledged　by　honor　and　gratitude　to　Phoebe　Dale；　but
  hang　all　that　now。　　〃No　man　should　marry　one　woman　when　he　loves
  another；　it　is　dishonorable。〃　　He　got　into　the　street　and　followed
  her　as　fast　as　he　could　without　running。
  It　was　not　so　easy　to　catch　her。　　Ladies　are　not　built　for　running；
  but　a　fine；　tall；　symmetrical　girl　who　has　practised　walking　fast
  can　cover　the　ground　wonderfully　in　walkingif　she　chooses。　　It
  was　a　sight　to　see　how　Rosa　Lusignan　squared　her　shoulders　and
  stepped　out　from　the　waist　like　a　Canadian　girl　skating；　while　her
  elastic　foot　slapped　the　pavement　as　she　spanked　along。
  She　had　nearly　cleared　the　town　before　Falcon　came　up　with　her。
  He　was　hardly　ten　yards　from　her　when　an　unexpected　incident
  occurred。　　She　whisked　round　the　corner　of　Bird　Street；　and　ran
  plump　against　Christopher　Staines；　in　fact；　she　darted　into　his
  arms；　and　her　face　almost　touched　the　breast　she　had　wounded　so
  deeply。
  CHAPTER　IV。
  Rosa　cried　〃Oh！〃　and　put　up　her　hands　to　her　face　in　lovely
  confusion；　coloring　like　a　peony。
  〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Christopher；　stiffly；　but　in　a　voice　that
  trembled。
  〃No；〃　said　Rosa；　〃it　was　I　ran　against　you。　　I　walk　so　fast　now。
  Hope　I　did　not　hurt　you。〃
  〃Hurt　me？〃
  〃Well；　then；　frighten　you？〃
  No　answer。
  〃Oh；　please　don't　quarrel　with　me　in　the　STREET；〃　said　Rosa；
  cunningly　implying　that　he　was　the　quarrelsome　one。　　〃I　am　going　on
  the　beach。　　Good…by！〃　　This　adieu　she　uttered　softly；　and　in　a
  hesitating　tone　that　belied　it。　　She　started　off；　however；　but　much
  more　slowly　than　she　was　going　before；　and；　as　she　went；　she　turned
  her　head　with　infinite　grace；　and　kept　looking　askant　down　at　the
  pavement　two　yards　behind　her：　moreover　she　went　close　to　the　wall；
  and　left　room　at　her　side　for　another　to　walk。
  Christopher　hesitated　a　moment；　but　the　mute　invitation；　so　arch
  yet　timid；　so　pretty；　tender；　sly；　and　womanly；　was　too　much　for
  him；　as　it　has　generally　proved　for　males；　and　the　philosopher's
  foot　was　soon　in　the　very　place　to　which　the　Simpleton　with　the
  mere　tail　of　her　eye　directed　it。
  They　walked　along；　side　by　side；　in　silence；　Staines　agitated；
  gloomy；　confused；　Rosa　radiant　and　glowing；　yet　not　knowing　what　to
  say　for　herself；　and　wanting　Christopher　to　begin。　　So　they　walked
  along　without　a　word。
  Falcon　followed　them　at　some　distance　to　see　whether　it　was　an
  admirer　or　only　an　acquaintance。　　A　lover　he　never　dreamed　of；　she
  had　shown　such　evident　pleasure　in　his　company；　and　had　received
  his　visits　alone　so　constantly。
  However；　when　the　pair　had　got　to　the　beach；　and　were　walking
  slower　and　slower；　he　felt　a　pang　of　rage　and　jealousy；　turned　on
  his　heel　with　an　audible　curse；　and　found　Phoebe　Dale　a　few　yards
  behind　him　with　a　white　face　and　a　peculiar　look。　　He　knew　what　the
  look　meant；　he　had　brought　it　to　that　faithful　face　before　to…day。
  〃You　are　better；　Miss　Lusignan。〃
  〃Better；　Dr。　Staines？　　I　am　health　itself　thanks　tohem！〃
  〃Our　estrangement　has　agreed　with　you？〃　　This　very　bitterly。
  〃You　know　very　well　it　is　not　that。　　Oh；　please　don't　make　me　cry
  in　the　streets。〃
  This　humble　petition；　or　rather　meek　threat；　led　to　another　long
  silence。　　It　was　continued　till　they　had　nearly　reached　the　shore。
  But；　meantime；　Rosa's　furtive　eyes　scanned　Christopher's　face；　and
  her　conscience　smote　her　at　the　signs　of　suffering。　　She　felt　a
  desire　to　beg　his　pardon　with　deep　humility；　but　she　suppressed
  that　weakness。　　She　hung　her　head　with　a　pretty；　sheepish　air；　and
  asked　him　if　he　could　not　think　of　something　agreeable　to　say　to
  one　after　deserting　one　so　long。
  〃I　am　afraid　not；〃　said　Christopher；　bluntly。　　〃I　have　an　awkward
  habit　of　speaking　the　truth；　and　some　people　can't　bear　that；　not
  even　when　it　is　spoken　for　their　good。〃
  〃That　depends　on　temper；　and　nerves；　and　things；〃　said　Rosa；
  deprecatingly；　then　softly；　〃I　could　bear　anything　from　you　now。〃
  〃Indeed！〃　said　Christopher；　grimly。　　〃Well；　then；　I　hear　you　had　no
  sooner　got　rid　of　your　old　lover；　for　loving　you　too　well　and
  telling　you　the　truth；　than　you　took　up　another；some　flimsy　man
  of　fashion；　who　will　tell　you　any　lie　you　like。〃
  〃It　is　a　story；　a　wicked　story；〃　cried　Rosa；　thoroughly　alarmed。
  〃Me；　a　lover！　　He　dances　like　an　angel；　I　can't　help　that。〃
  〃Are　his　visits　at　your　house　like　angels'few　and　far　between？〃
  And　the　true　lover's　brow　lowered　black　upon　her　for　the　first
  time。
  Rosa　changed　color；　and　her　eyes　fell　a　moment。　　〃Ask　papa；〃　she
  said。　　〃His　father　was　an　old　friend　of　papa's。〃
  〃Rosa；　you　are　prevaricating。　　Young　men　do　not　call　on　old
  gentlemen　when　there　is　an　attractive　young　lady　in　the　house。〃
  The　argument　was　getting　too　close；　so　Rosa　operated　a　diversion。
  〃So；〃　said　she；　with　a　sudden　air　of　lofty　disdain；　swiftly　and
  adroitly　assumed；　〃you　have　had　me　watched？〃
  〃Not　I；　I　only　hear　what　people　say。〃
  〃Listen　to　gossip　and　not　have　me　watched！　　That　shows　how　little
  you　really　cared　for　me。　　Well；　if　you　had；　you　would　have　made　a
  little　discovery；　that　is　all。〃
  〃Should　I？〃　said　Christopher；　puzzled。　　〃What？〃
  〃I　shall　not　tell　you。　　Think　what　you　please。　　Yes；　sir；　you　would
  have　found　out　that　I　take　long　walks　every　day；　all　alone；　and
  what　is　more；　that　I　walk　through　Gravesend；　hopinglike　a　goose
  that　somebody　really　loved　me；　and　would　meet　me；　and　beg　my
  pardon；　and　if　he　had；　I　should　have　told　him　it　was　only　my
  tongue；　and　my　nerves；　and　things；　my　heart　was　his；　and　my
  gratitude。　　And　after　all；　what　do　words　signify；　when　I　am　a　good；
  obedient　girl　at　bottom？　　So　that　is　what　you　have　lost　by　not
  condescending　to　look　after　me。　　Fine　love！Christopher；　beg　my
  pardon。〃
  〃May　I　inquire　for　what？〃
  〃Why；　for　not　understanding　me；　for　not　knowing　that　I　should　be
  sorry　the　moment　you　were　gone。　　I　took　them　off　the　very　next　day；
  to　please　you。〃
  〃Took　off　whom？Oh；　I　understand。　　You　did？　　Then　you　ARE　a　good
  girl。〃
  〃Didn't　I　tell　you　I　was？　　A　good；　obedient　girl；　and　anything　but
  a　flirt。〃
  〃I　don't　say　that。〃
  〃But　I　do。　　Don't　interrupt。　　It　is　to　your　good　advice　I　owe　my
  health；　and　to　love　anybody　but　you；　when　I　owe　you　my　love　and　my
  life；　I　must　be　a　heartless；　ungrateful；　worthless　　Oh；
  Christopher；　forgive　me！　　No；　no；　I　mean；　beg　my　pardon。〃
  〃I'll　do　both；〃　said　Christopher；　taking　her　in　his　arms。　　〃I　beg
  your　pardon；　and　I　forgive　you。〃
  Rosa　leaned　her　head　tenderly　on　his　shoulder；　and　began　to　sigh。
  〃Oh；　dear；　dear！　I　am　a　wicked；　foolish　girl；　not　fit　to　walk
  alone。〃
  On　this　admission；　Christopher　spoke　out；　and　urged　her　to　put　an
  end　to　all　these　unhappy　misunderstandings；　and　to　his　new　torment；
  jealousy；　by　marrying　him。
  〃And　so　I　would　this　very　minute；　if　papa　would　consent。　　But；〃
  said　she；　slyly；　〃you　never　can　be　so　foolish　to　wish　it。　　What！　a
  wise　man　like　you　marry　a　simpleton！〃
  〃Did　I　ever　call　you　that？〃　asked　Christopher；　reproachfully。
  〃No；　dear；　but　you　are　the　only　one　who　has　not；　and　perhaps　I
  should　lose　even　the　one；　if　you　were　to　marry　me。　　Oh；　husbands
  are　not　so　polite　as　lovers！　　I　have　observed　that；　simpleton　or
  not。〃
  Christopher　assured　her　that　he　took　quite　a　different　view　of　her
  character；　he　believed　her　to　be　too　profound　for　shallow　people　to
  read　all　in　a　moment：　he　even　intimated　that　he　himself　had
  experienced　no　little　difficulty　in　understanding　her　at　odd　times。
  〃And　so；〃　said　he；　〃they　turn　round　upon　you；　and　instead　of
  saying；　'We　are　too　shallow　to　fathom　you；'　they　pretend　you　are　a
  simpleton。〃
  This　solution　of　the　mystery　had　never　occurred　to　Rosa；　nor　indeed
  was　it　likely　to　occur　to　any　creature　less　ingenious　than　a　lover：
  it　pleased　her　hugely；　her　fine　eyes　sparkled；　and　she　nestled
  closer　still　to　the　strong　arm　that　was　to　parry　every　ill；　from
  mortal　disease　to　galling　epithets。
  She　listened　with　a　willing　ear　to　all　his　reasons；　his　hopes；　his
  fears；　and；　when　they　reached　her　father's　door；　it　was　settled
  that　he　should　dine　there　that　day；　and　urge　his　suit　to　her　father
  after　dinner。　　She　would　implore　the　old　gentleman　to　listen　to　it
  favorably。
  The　lovers　parted；　and　Christopher　went　home　like　one　who　has
  awakened　from　a　hideous　dream　to　daylight　and　happiness。
  He　had　not　gone　far　before　he　met　a　dashing　dogcart；　driven　by　an
  exquisite。　　He　turned　to　look　after　it；　and　saw　it　drive　up　to　Kent
  Villa。
  In　a　moment　he　divined　his　rival；　and　a　sickness　of　heart　came　over
  him。　　But　he　recovered　himself　directly；　and　said；　〃If　that　is　the
  fellow；　she　will　not　receive　him　now。〃
  She　did　receive　him　though：　at　all　events；　the　dogcart　stood　at　the
  door；　and　its　master　remained　inside。
  Christopher　stood；　and　counted