Alas that October days should be so fleet! A day such as this one might have had forty hours without bringing _ennui_ to any of us; but at length evening closes in, the time is come when we must take our departure. Regretfully we collect our shawls and move towards the drag. Mr. Hastings, still adoring, scrambles on by my side, panting and putting with the weight of the too solid flesh nature has bestowed upon him and the wraps he is compelled to carry. Mr. Carrington, Dora, and Miss Hastings are close behind; Billy straggles somewhere in the distance; Roland and pretty Lenah follow more to the left. Just as we reach the road Mr. Carrington speaks, and colors a little as he does so. "Miss Phyllis, I think I once heard you say you had never sat on the front of a drag; will you take it now? Miss Vernon agrees with me it is a good chance for you to see if you would like it." How good of him to remember that foolish speech of mine, when I know he is longing for Dora's society! "Oh! thank you," I say, flushing; "it is very kind of you to think of it; but Dora likes it too, and I can assure you I was quite happy. I enjoyed myself immensely when coming." "Oh! in that case---" returns Mr. Carrington, coldly, half turning away. "Not but that I would _like_ it," I go on, encouraged by a smile from Dora, who can now afford to be magnanimous, having been made much of and singled out by the potentate during the entire day, "if you are sure (to Mr. Carrington) you wish it." "Come," says he with a pleased smile, and soon I find myself in the coveted position, our landlord in excellent temper beside me. The horses, tired of standing, show a good deal of friskiness at the set-off, and claim their driver's undivided attention, so that we have covered at least a half mile of the road before he speaks to me. Then stooping to tuck the rug more closely round me (the evenings have grown very chilly) he whispers, with a smile:-- "Are you _quite_ sure you would rather be here with me than at the back with that 'fat boy.'" "Quite positive," I answer, with an emphatic nod. "I was only afraid you would have preferred--you would regret--you would have liked to return as you came," I wind up, desperately. He stares at me curiously for a moment almost with suspicion, as it seems to me, in the gathering twilight. "At this moment, believe me, I have no regrets, no troubles," he says at length, quietly. "Can you say the same? Did Hasting's eloquence make no impression? I couldn't hear what particular line he was taking, but he looked unutterable things. Once or twice I thought he was going to weep. The melting mood would just suit a person of his admirable dimensions."