“Well, she brings people up to her room.” “You don't mean to her bedroom?” “She says you can't call it a bedroom, but she sleeps there for all that. She covers up the bed and makes it look like a couch; she keeps birds and dogs there; Flossie had her puppies there. That's her room,” said Maggie, lifting one of the boughs. “I shouldn't be surprised if Jimmy were there with her now.” The foliage glinted in the sunset, and as Maggie stood pointing, still holding the bough, the picture flashed upon Frank, and he said: “Oh, how pretty you are now! How I should like to paint you!” And a moment after he said, interested, solely interested in sentimental affection, “Sally's ideas of love seem to me very funny; if she really loves Meason, why doesn't she marry him?” “He has no money, and father would never hear of it.” “Never hear of it! If I loved a girl, nothing in the world would prevent my marrying her.” “I wonder if that's true,” said Maggie, and she let go the bough and stood facing him, her hands clasped behind her back. “Of course it is. What is life for if it isn't to get the woman we love?” “It is nice to hear you say so; but I am afraid very few young men think like you nowadays. One woman is the same as another to them.” “I cannot understand any one thinking so. If it were so, the whole charm would be lost.” So the young people talked, and lost in the charm of each thrilling minute, they walked through the shadows and darkening leaves. The soft garden echoed with the sound of a girl's voice crying, “Cuckoo, cuckoo,” and the white dresses flew over the sward, and the young men ran after them and caught them. They were playing hide and seek. Excited beyond endurance, Triss barked loudly, and forms were seen flying precipitately. “Tie him up to this tree,” said Maggie. “No, no, better take him to the house,” said Frank; “it would make him savage to tie him up.” When the ninth bottle of champagne had been opened, and the supper table was noisy, Frank whispered to Maggie, “Did you ever see _Macbeth_?” “Yes, but why?” “Because I can't help thinking what a splendid occasion it would be for Banquo's ghost to appear.” Maggie pressed his hand and laughed. Soon after the sound of wheels was heard. Grace turned pale, Sally said: “Who would have thought it?” A moment after Mr. Brookes, with Berkins and Willy behind him, entered. He stood amazed, and seeing that the tears were mounting to his eyes, Maggie said: “Father, how tired and faint you look. We thought you wouldn't be coming home to-night. Do sit down and have a glass of wine.” But neither winning words nor ways could soothe this storm, and in reply to a question from Berkins, Mr. Brookes declared passionately that he knew none of the young men who came to his house. V “Father's just gone downstairs. I think we had better wait a minute or two. In that way we shall escape a scolding. Father won't miss the ten o'clock.”