"
"Then I am afraid it will go now, for I am going."
"You will lose us the match if you do," said Compton.
"I can't help it: now you are out, it is rather insipid. There, you see
I can pay compliments as well as you."
Then she made a graceful inclination and moved away.
Compton felt his heart ache at parting. He took a thought and ran
quickly to a certain part of the field.
Ruperta and her attendant walked very slowly homeward.
Compton caught them just at their own gate. "Cousin!" said he,
imploringly, and held her out a nosegay of cowslips only.
At that the memories rushed back on her, and the girl seemed literally
to melt. She gave him one look full of womanly sensibility and winning
tenderness, and said, softly, "Thank you, cousin."
Compton went away on wings: the ice was broken.
But the next time he met her it had frozen again apparently: to be sure
she was alone; and young ladies will be bolder when they have another
person of their own sex with them.
Mr. Angelo called on Sir Charles Bassett to complain of a serious
grievance.
Mr. Angelo had become zealous and eloquent, but what are eloquence and
zeal against sex? A handsome woman had preached for ten minutes upon a
little mound outside the village, and had announced she should say a
few parting words next Sunday evening at six o'clock.
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