Aveline agreed to this, and she was soon established under the trees, with a little table at her elbow on which stood a glass of water, a plate of hot-house grapes, and a splendid cluster of flowers. Mrs. Fitzpatrick with her work on one side of the chair, Mr. Haveloc on the grass with a book. "What are you reading, Mr. Haveloc, that makes you smile?" "Boiardo, there is something so dry in his manner." "Do not read to yourself, it fidgets me," said Aveline. Mr. Haveloc closed his book, and began throwing pebbles on the beach below them. "Have you much of this pink clematis, Mr. Haveloc," asked Aveline, examining her bouquet. "There is one plant of it." "Have you them in any other colour?" "Yes; in white. But I brought you the pink because it is the greatest novelty." "Bring me both kinds to-morrow." "I will." "And some of the heaths you were talking about." "Yes; you shall have a splendid bouquet to-morrow." "Your gardens will be quite devastated, Mr. Haveloc," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick. "That will be of no consequence," he said. "I wish, Mr. Haveloc," said Aveline, "that you would shoot me a partridge, I should like it for my dinner." It was the first of September. Now if she had asked him to shoot her a golden eagle, it would have been just as much in his power. He was too near-sighted to shoot; and moreover he had not applied for permission to shoot any where that year. He looked to Mrs. Fitzpatrick for assistance. "You know, my love," said her mother, "it could not be in time for your dinner to-day." "Yes; I would wait for it," said Aveline. "The truth is," said Mr. Haveloc, "I am no marksman, my sight is so bad that I could not distinguish a partridge on that walk." "You say that only to teaze me;" said Aveline, "you can always see mamma when she comes out of the avenue." "But then your mamma is something larger than a partridge," said Mr. Haveloc. "Then I am to go without it, I suppose," said Aveline. "No, for I will go to the next town and bring you one." "And what shall I do without you all that while;" asked Aveline impatiently. At this moment, Mr. Lindsay appeared at the drawing-room window, and joined the party on the lawn. "What are you all caballing about," he asked. "Aveline has a fancy for a partridge, Mr. Lindsay," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick; "how shall I get one?" "I have brought one with me," said Mr. Lindsay, "I left it with your cook." "I am glad you did not depend on me," said Mr. Haveloc, "I should have blundered over the turnip fields all day, and brought you nothing." "Well, do not you find it very warm," said Mr. Lindsay, "beautiful grapes you have! Where do they come from?" "Taste them, doctor," said Aveline, "Mr. Haveloc brought them."