Lily, who was sitting close to Alfred, kissed his hand; the pleasure was all the greater because it was unexpected. "It is kind of you, Alf," said Old Wheels, with a nod of approval, and with more cordiality in his manner towards his grandson than he had expressed for many a day; "Lily seldom gets an opportunity to breathe the fresh air. A run in the park will bring the roses in my darling's face again." "Do I want them, grandfather?" asked Lily gaily. Her face was bright with anticipation. Old Wheels looked at her fondly. "Not now, my dear," he replied, "but you have been looking pale lately." "You are too anxious about me, grandfather," said Lily affectionately; "I am very well. I think--I think--that you love me just a little bit too much." And she took his face between her hands, and kissed him, once, twice, thrice--making a rosebud of her mouth, as a little child might have done. He was delighted at her merry humour. "I can't be that, darling," he said; "you are worthy of all the love that we can give you." Alfred assented with, "That she is, grandfather." "You are in a conspiracy to spoil me," said Lily, greatly elated. She was standing between them, holding a hand of each, and out of her affectionate nature and her gladness at their more cordial manner towards each other, she brought their hands together, and held them clasped within her own. As the old man's fingers tightened upon those of his grandson, he thought that perhaps after all he was torturing himself unnecessarily, and, out of his hopes, he smiled and nodded affectionately at Alfred. Alfred smiled in return, but the next moment a shadow passed into his face. It did not rest there long; his lighter mood soon asserted itself. "How soon shall we start, Alfred?" asked Lily. "As soon as you can get dressed, Lil. It will be best to go early. Then we can have a ramble and a bit of dinner, and a row on the river, perhaps." "That will be nice, and grandfather shall go with us." Alfred's face became overclouded at the suggestion, and Old Wheels saw the cloud. Involuntarily his grasp of Alfred's hand relaxed. "No, my dear," he said quickly; "I can't go with you. I have something to do at home. Run away now, and get dressed." Lily being gone, the old man continued, "I spared you the awkwardness of a refusal, Alfred; I saw that you would rather I should not accompany you." "O, sir," was the reply, spoken with exceeding ill grace, "if you wish----" "I don't wish, my boy. Why should I do anything to spoil Lily's enjoyment? and it _would_ spoil her enjoyment if she noticed that you considered me an encumbrance." "Of course it's me," exclaimed Alfred pettishly; "I thought I had had enough lecturing. I won't stand it much longer, and so I tell you." "Don't quarrel, Alfred; Lily will be back presently, and we must do everything in our power to avoid giving her pain. I am glad that you are going to take her out. Can you afford it?"