“Yes, Rosalia, it disturbs me—with _joy_! Dear mother—how devoted she has been to us, Rosalia! And now that we are all grown up, and do not need her constant care, and now that it may naturally be expected that before long we will all be getting mar——be getting separate establishments of _our own_—I am glad that there is no prospect of mother’s spending her life _alone_. And then to see how long the curate has waited for her! Ever since the first winter of his boarding with her while we were his pupils—now that is what I call genuine affection—very few men would have done that!” “Well, but, Gusty, he _boarded_ with her all the time—he had her society all the time—so what odds?” “True—I do suppose that was the secret of his patience. And now, Hagar, this singular girl, where are we to find her?” “She is out on the moor somewhere, with horse and hounds—she has been out all day.” Just as they spoke the sunset rays were intercepted by another equestrian figure. The slight, elegant figure of a dark complexioned young girl clad in a dark green riding habit, cap and plume, mounted on a jet black courser, came pricking over the heath, followed by a couple of beautiful pointers. In her hand she held a light fowling-piece, and at her saddle’s pommel hung a game bag filled with birds. As her falcon eye descried the youth and maiden, she bounded forward to meet them—she was at their side—and “Hagar!” “Gusty!” were the joyful words of recognition that simultaneously broke from their lips, as their horses nearly met in a shock, and he bent from his saddle, caught her to his bosom, and gave her a hearty kiss. It was a brother’s greeting to the sister of his babyhood. And—“How you have grown, Hagar!” “How tall you are, Gusty!” were the next words of surprise and pleasure that broke from their lips as they backed their horses and gazed at each other delightedly—“What a sportsman you are, Hagar!” “When did you come, Gusty?” were the next cross-question and remark spoken in the same breath by both. “I came scarcely an hour ago,” answered Augustus. “And you have been to the Hall?” “Yes, Rosalia and myself rode over to the Hall to see you—hearing that you were out, and we being impatient, could not await you there, so we rode out in search of you—but what a sportsman you are, Hagar! have you bagged anything? or only scared the birds and shot yourself?” “Enough for your supper, Master Gusty—and I guess that it will not be unwelcome—I rather think, it is some time since you have enjoyed the luxury of a canvas-back duck!” said the girl, with a dash of pique in her tone. Then raising her eagle eye to the sky, she quickly touched Gusty, and pointing immediately over head, exclaimed, “Quick, Gusty! look! do you see that speck—like a speck of ink in the dark blue zenith?” “Why, no! Who could see a speck in the zenith of such a dark sky as this—none but you, Hagar, whose gaze would make the sun bat his eyes!”