darling; I should almost hate my own child, lying on your breast!" "Hush, Miles!" she whispered, laying her hand on his mouth. "Do not speak even of jealousy; 'tis so false a passion, ever leading astray, ever leading us down some crooked path." "Why, my pretty reasoner, what do you know of jealousy?" and he drew her close to his side, and smiled up in her face. "Oh! I guess it, dear, from all I have read of its influence, it leads to so much error and bitterness; and----and----I will confess, dear Miles," she added, looking down, "I felt a pang of it myself, when you were absent the other day, in Sussex. I was wondering all day with whom you were walking, talking, amusing yourself; and whether you once, even, saw my spirit flit before your path!" Miles looked down thoughtfully, doubtingly, a moment, then, raising his eyes, said carelessly--"You know, darling, why I went to Uplands Park. Lord Randolph Gray wished me to come, whilst he was down there, to choose a good light for my 'Aurora' when I have completed it, and also to make some other artistic arrangements, which cannot but prove of great service to me. My Minnie knows I am only an artist, obliged to follow as a profession what was once only pleasure." "Well, are we not happy, Miles?--_I_ am--oh! very--very happy--perfectly so, since my dear aunt Dorcas has been to see her naughty niece; and, now, tell me all the persons you met at Uplands, for I knew there were several there, and you have always found something else to talk of, when I asked you." "Oh! I paid little attention, I was so much engaged; there were his aunt, and several ladies, and----" "I wonder where Dora is?" cried Minnie, hastily, like a child flying from one subject to another. "She has not answered my letter, and I wrote as soon as we were married in town, and that is two months since--'tis very unkind!" "What an old wife you are, Minnie!" he said fondly, not paying attention to the other portion of her speech. "Never mind that, Miles; let us talk of Dora. Do you know, I was half jealous of her; I thought you admired her; I thought two such could not meet without loving." Despite his self-control, he coloured slightly, and merely ejaculated, "Pshaw!" "I do declare, Miles, you are colouring! Well, I fancied my aunt Lady Ripley, and Dora, were perhaps at Uplands." "What could make you think so?" he asked, slightly embarrassed. "Because I know my aunt wishes Dora to marry Lord Randolph Gray; and, as so many ladies were there, I thought it probable she might be one." "Silly child!--silly little girl!" he said, evasively. "There--get such foolish thoughts out of your head, and give me one more sitting, darling, for this Aurorean veil of hair."