"'Oh, my beads!' cried his sister; for the hammering had overturned the little box in which they were, and she had only time to save them, or most of them, from rolling down on the gravel. "'Well,' said Bernard, 'if that does not please you, what can I do next?' "Lucilla sighed; she could not speak at the moment, she was so very sad, and so much disappointed. "'I thought,' said Bernard, after a minute, 'that you promised me a pleasure. What is it?' "Lucilla's eyes filled with tears; she rubbed them hastily away, and went on working, though without any delight in her work. "Bernard yawned, then stretched; and after a while he said: "'Come, Lucilla, let us have a walk.' "'Anything,' thought Lucilla, 'that will put you into a better state of mind.' So she gathered up her work, put it into her basket, and arose, leaving the tools and the work on her table; then, giving one sad look at her grotto, she led the way to a wicket not very far off, which opened on a path made by her father through some part of the large and beautiful wood which skirted part of the garden. Bernard followed her, and they went on together for some time in silence. "The path first led them down into a deep hollow, through the bottom of which ran a pure stream of water, which had its source in the hills above. The rays of the sun, which here and there shone through the trees, sparkled and danced in the running stream. A gentle breeze was rustling among the leaves; and besides the song of many birds, the clear note of the cuckoo was heard from some distance. "The path led them to a little bridge of a single plank and a hand-rail, over which they crossed, and began to go up still among woods to the other side, where the bank was very much more steep. "Still they spoke not: Lucilla was thinking of Bernard, and grieving for his wayward humours; and Bernard was thinking that Lucilla was not half such good company as Ralph the stable-boy, or even as Miss Evans or Stephen; and yet he had some sort of love for Lucilla, though he did not like her company. He was, however, the first to speak. "'Lucilla,' he said, 'do you know a lad in the parish called Noddy?' "'Noddy?' replied Lucilla. "'There is such a one,' said Bernard; 'Griffith knows him well, and they say he is the oddest fellow--a sort of fool, and everybody's laughing-stock. They will have it that I have seen him often; but if I have, I don't know him.' "'There may be many boys in the parish unknown to me,' answered Lucilla. "'I have asked Ralph about him,' said Bernard; 'but I can't get anything out of him; he always falls a-laughing when I speak the word.' "Lucilla felt herself more and more sad about her brother, and said to him: "'Really, Bernard, you are too intimate with Ralph; he may be a very good boy, but you ought not to be so free with him as you are.' "Bernard walked on, and made no answer.