They had just turned one of the rugged corners of the glen, and there before them in the distance was Chris Lisle helping Claude to catch a fish--his words, of course, inaudible, but his actions sufficiently demonstrative to make Parry Glyddyr press his teeth hardly together, and the owner of the granite castle grip his stick and swear. Volume One, Chapter III. LESSON THE FIRST. Things that seem far-fetched are sometimes simple matters of fact. Just as Claude was glancing back, and feeling as if she would give anything to be back home, a dove among the trees in the fern-clad glen began to coo, and Mary laughed. "There," she said, "only listen. You can't go back now. It would be absurd." "But you are so imprudent," whispered Claude, whose cheeks were growing hotter. "How could you?" "I wanted to see you happy, my darling coz," was whispered back. "I saw him coming here with his fishing-rod, and--" "But, Mary, what will Chris Lisle think?" "Think he's in luck, and bless poor little humpy, fairy godmother me, and--no, no, too late to retreat. We have been seen." For as they had passed out into an open part of the glen where the river widened into a pool, there, only a short distance from them, and with his bright, sun-browned face directed toward the river, was a sturdy, well-built young fellow, dressed in a dark tweed Norfolk jacket and knickerbockers, busily throwing a fly across the pool till, as if intuitively becoming aware that he was watched, he looked sharply round. The next moment there was again the peculiar buzzing sound made by a rapidly-wound-up multiplying winch, the rod was thrown over the young man's shoulder, and he turned to meet them. "Ah, little Mary!" he cried merrily; and then, with a voice full of tender reverence, he turned, straw hat in hand, to Claude. "I did not expect to see you here." "And I am as much surprised," she said hastily. "Mary and I were having a walk." "And now we are here, Mr Lisle, you may as well show us all your salmon," said Mary seriously. "My salmon! I haven't had a rise." "And we have interrupted you, perhaps, just as the fish are biting. Come, Mary. Good-morning, Mr Lisle." "Oh!" Only a little interjection, but so full of reproach that Claude coloured here deeply, and more deeply still as, upon looking round for her companion, she found her comfortably seated upon a mossy stone, and with her head turned away to hide the mischievous delight which flashed from her eyes. "I'm beginning to be afraid that I have offended you, Miss Gartram-- Claude." "Oh, no; what nonsense. Come, Mary." The stone upon which she sat was not more deaf. "Don't hurry away. I thought I was some day to give you a lesson in salmon fishing." "I should never learn, Mr Lisle; and, besides, it is not a very ladylike accomplishment." "Anything you did, Claude, would be ladylike. Come, I know there are two or three salmon in this pool. They will not rise for me; they might for you."