Errington paused, dismounted, and raising his hat, approached her. "I did not expect so meet _you_ so far afield," he said. "You are not afraid of a long walk." "My nephews have led me on from flower to flower," she returned, again coloring brightly, but not shrinking from his eyes. "Now I think it is time to go home." "It is not late," he returned. "How is every one at Castleford?" "Quite well. Lady Alice has lost her cold, and regained her voice--she was singing this morning," said Katherine, smiling as if she knew the real drift of his question. "I am glad to hear it," he returned, soberly. Errington and Lady Alice did not write to each other every day. "Auntie," cried Cis, "the basket is quite full. If you open your sunshade and hold it upside-down, I can fill that too." "No dear; you have quite enough. We must go back now." "Oh, not yet, please?" The little fellow came tumbling down the bank, followed by Charlie, who immediately caught his aunt's hand and repeated, "Not yet, auntie!" "These are Mrs. Ormonde's boys, I suppose?" said Errington. "Yes; have you never seen them before?" "Never. And have you not had enough climbing?" he added, good-humoredly, to Charlie. "No, not half enough!" cried Cis. "There's _such_ a bunch of violets just under that biggest beech-tree, nearly up at the top! Do let me gather them--just those; do--do--do!" "Very well; do not go too fast, or you will break your neck." Both boys started off, leaving their basket at Katherine's feet. "I remember now," said Errington, looking at her, "where I saw I saw you before. Is was two--nearly three--years ago, at Hyde Park corner, when that elder boy had a narrow escape from being run over." "Were _you_ there?" she exclaimed, so evidently surprised that Errington saw the impulse was genuine. "I recollect Mr. Payne and Colonel Ormonde; but I did not see _you_." "Then where _have_ you met me?" was at his lips, but he did not utter the words. "Well, Payne was of real service; I did nothing. The little fellow had a close shave." "He had indeed," said Katherine, thoughtfully, with downcast eyes; then, suddenly raising them to his, she said, as if to herself, "And you were there too! How strange it all is!" "I see nothing so strange in it, Miss Liddell," smiling good-humoredly. "Have you any superstition on the subject?" "No; I am not superstitious; yet it was curious--I mean, to meet by accident on that day just before--" She stopped. "And now I am connected with Colonel Ormonde, living with Mr. Payne's sister and--and talking here with--_you_." "These coincidences occur perpetually when people move in the same set," returned Errington, feeling absurdly curious, and yet not knowing how to get at the train of recollection or association which underlay her words--words evidently unstudied and impulsive. "I suppose so. And, you know--Mr. Payne," Katherine continued, quickly--"how good he is! He lives completely for others."