hot and tired, and had a headache, and would stay at home. "Don't be long, Patty," she said; "it is such a bore to be alone." Patience promised a speedy return, and, making her way to the gate, crossed the road to Miss Spooner's abode. She was hardly out of sight when the nose of a wager boat was driven up against the bank, and there was Ralph Newton, sitting in a blue Jersey shirt, with a straw hat and the perspiration running from his handsome brow. Clarissa did not see him till he whistled to her, and then she started, and laughed, and ran down to the boat, and hardly remembered that she was quite alone till she had taken his hand. "I don't think I'll come out, but you must get me some soda-water and brandy," said Ralph. "Where's Patience?" "Patience has gone out to see an old maid; and we haven't got any brandy." "I am so hot," said Ralph, carefully extricating himself from the boat. "You have got sherry?" "Yes, we've got sherry, and port wine, and Gladstone;" and away she went to get him such refreshment as the villa possessed. He drank his sherry and soda-water, and lit his pipe, and lay there on the lawn, as though he were quite at home; and Clarissa ministered to him,--unconscious of any evil. He had been brought up with them on terms of such close intimacy that she was entitled to regard him as a brother,--almost as a brother,--if only she were able so to regard him. It was her practice to call him Ralph, and her own name was as common to him as though she were in truth his sister. "And what do you think of this new cousin?" he asked. [Illustration: He drank his sherry and soda-water, and lit his pipe, and lay there on the lawn, as though he were quite at home . . .] "I can think nothing as yet;--but I mean to like her." "I mean to hate her furiously," said Ralph. "That is nonsense. She will be nothing to you. You needn't even see her unless you please. But, Ralph, do put your jacket on. I'm sure you'll catch cold." And she went down, and hooked his jacket for him out of the boat, and put it over his shoulders. "I won't have you throw it off," she said; "if you come here you must do as you're told." "You needn't have knocked the pipe out of my mouth all the same. What is she like, I wonder?" "Very,--very beautiful, I'm told." "A kind of tropical Venus,--all eyes, and dark skin, and black hair, and strong passions, and apt to murder people;--but at the same time so lazy that she is never to do anything either for herself or anybody else;--wouldn't fetch a fellow's jacket for him, let him be catching cold ever so fast." "She wouldn't fetch yours, I dare say." "And why shouldn't she?" "Because she doesn't know you." "They soon get to know one,--girls of that sort. I'm told that in the West Indies you become as thick as thieves in half a morning's flirtation, and are expected to propose at the second meeting." "That is not to be your way with our cousin, I can assure you."