Now, as kind Fortune would have it, and Fortune was very kind that morning, the place where we stood was within a stone's throw of The Three Jolly Anglers, and wafted to us on the warm, still air there came a wondrous fragrance, far sweeter and more alluring than the breath of roses or honeysuckle--the delightful aroma of frying bacon. Lady Warburton faced us, her parasol tucked beneath her arm, looking very much like a military officer on parade. "Dorothy and Reginald," she said in a short, sharp voice of command, "bid good-bye to your Auntie Lisbeth and accompany me home at once." "No, no," cried Lisbeth, with hands stretched out appealingly, "you will not leave us like this, Aunt--for the sake of the love I shall always bear you, and--and--" "Elizabeth, I cared for you from your babyhood up. Ingratitude is my return. I watched you grow from child to woman. I planned out a future for you; you broke those plans. I might tell you that I am a lonely, disappointed old woman, who loved you much more than she thought, but I won't!" "Dear, dear Aunt Agatha, did you love me so much, and I never guessed; you wouldn't let me, you see. Ah! do not think me ungrateful, but when a woman comes to marry she must choose for herself as I have done; and I am happy, dear, and proud of my choice--proud to have won the true love of a true man; only do not think I am ungrateful. And if this must be good-bye, do not let us part like this--for my sake and your sake and the sake of my--husband." Lady Warburton had turned away, and there ensued a somewhat embarrassing pause. "Elizabeth," she said suddenly, "if I don't mistake, somebody is frying bacon somewhere, and I'm ravenously hungry." "So am I," cried the Imp. "And so am I," Dorothy chimed in. "Then suppose we have breakfast," I suggested, and in almost less time than it takes to tell I was leading the way across the green with Lady Warburton on my arm--actually leaning on my arm. It all happened so quickly that Heaven and Lisbeth alone know how she got there. And now who so surprised to see us as honest Amos Baggett, ushering us with many bows and smiles into the Sanded Parlour, where breakfast was soon ready; and who so quick and dexterous in attending to our wants as the rosy-cheeked chambermaid? And what a breakfast that was! Never had the antique andirons on the hearth, the pewter plates and dishes upon the walls, the brass-bound blunderbuss above the mantel seemed so bright and polished before, and surely never had they gleamed upon a merrier company. To be sure, the Imp's remarks were somewhat few and far between, but that was simply on account of the blackberry jam. "I suppose you are both ridiculously happy," said Lady Warburton, eyeing us over her coffee cup. "Most absurdly!" answered Lisbeth, blushing all in a moment. "Preposterously!" I nodded. "Of course!" said Lady Warburton, and setting down her cup, she sighed, while I wondered what memories her narrow life could hold.