the window to gain a little time before she faced her relations. Mr. Walgrave followed her, and opened one of the casements, and made some remark about the landscape to cover her confusion.

'Well, now we've seen all the house, I suppose it's pretty nigh time to think of a bit of grub. Where are we going to have our dinners, Mr. Walgrave ?' asked James Redmayne. In the gardens, or in the park?'

'In neither, Mr. Redmayne,' answered the barrister. 'We are going to imagine ourselves genuine Clevedons, and dine in the great hall.'

I thought

"Eh! Well, that is a rum start. you'd have been for spreading the table-cloth on the grass in a rural way; but I don't suppose Mr. Moles here will have any objection.'

'Not in the least, Mr. Redmayne. You can make as free as you please in the dining-hall; any one as Mr. Wort brings is kindly welcome; and me and my wife can get you anything you may want.'

'We've brought everything,' said aunt Hannah proudly. I packed the baskets with my own hands.'

Then me and my wife can wait upon you, Mrs. Redmayne, all the same,' replied the butler.

They all went downstairs: aunt Hannah and

Mr. Moles leading the way, discoursing confidentially about the baskets; Mr. Wort and Mr. Redmayne following, talking agriculture; Grace and the barrister last of all.

'Let us have one happy day together, Grace,' he said, as they went slowly down the grand staircase. 'Let us forget there is any such thing as the future, and be utterly happy for to-day.'

'I cannot help being happy when I am with you,' she answered softly, too innocent to consider the peril of owning her love so frankly.

CHAPTER VII.

'IF IT COULD ALWAYS BE TO-DAY!'

THERE was a small oval table at the end of the dining-hall- small, that is to say, in comparison with the long banqueting tables on each side of the hall, but capable of accommodating twelve or fourteen people, a table at which the Prince Regent had dined with a chosen few when all the county was assembled to do him honour-and it was this board which Mr. Walgrave insisted upon spreading with the contents of Mrs. Redmayne's baskets. He helped to lay the cloth himself, handing Grace the glasses and knives and forks as dextrously as if he had been a professional waiter accustomed to earn his three half-crowns nightly.

'We are used to picnicking, in chambers,' he said. 'I always help to lay the cloth when I have fellows to breakfast or dine with me. What a banquet you have brought, Mrs. Redmayne! I suggested a joint and a salad, and you have prepared an alder

manic feast pigeon - pie, corned beef, chicken in savory jelly, and—O, pray inform me, what is this sloppy compound in a stone jar? Are we to return to the days of our infancy, and eat curds-and-whey?'

That's a junket, Mr. Walgry,' replied aunt Hannah, with rather an offended air. It wasn't an easy thing to bring, I can tell you; but I think it has come all right. My mother was a West-countrywoman, and taught me to make junkets. They're reckoned a dainty by most people.'

'Rely upon it, I shall not be backward in my appreciation of the junket, Mrs. Redmayne. Now, Grace, you are to sit at the top of the table and be Lady Clevedon, and I shall take my place at the bottom as Sir Hubert. Mr. Wort, you will take the right of her ladyship; Mrs. Redmayne, I must have you by my side; and the rest anywhere.'

The two young men had come in from their ramble by this time, and the whole party, except one, fell to with hearty appetite, and made havoc of the pigeon-pie and boiled beef, savory jelly, and other kickshaws, in the way of salad, cucumber, &c.; while Mr. Moles the butler waited upon them with as stately an air as if he had been presiding at the head of an army of serving-men at one of the princely

banquets of days gone by. He permitted himself a quiet smile once or twice at some facetious remark of Mr. Walgrave's, but was for the most part the very genius of gravity, pouring out the Brierwood cider, and the sherry contributed by Mr. Walgrave, with as much dignity as if those liquors had been cabinet hocks or madeiras of priceless worth.

It was a merry meal. The barrister seemed as light-hearted as if his fame and fortune were made, and he had nothing more to do in life than to enjoy himself. Not always does Apollo strain his bow, and to-day the string hung loose, and Apollo abandoned himself heart and soul to happy idleness. He talked all through the meal, rattling on in very exuberance of spirits, while the two lads, who had some dim sense of humour, laughed vociferously ever and anon in the intervals of their serious labour; and Grace, in her post of honour at the top of the table, smiled and sparkled like a fountain in the sunshine. She had no need to say anything. It was enough for her to look so joyous and beautiful. Perhaps any blackbird in the Clevedon woods might have eaten as much as Miss Redmayne consumed that day; but it is only when every spiritual joy has vanished from a human soul that the pleasures of the table come