He entered the beautiful garden, and wondered was she at home. He had left London on an impulse, and had not announced to her his coming. To meet her unexpectedly was more in keeping with the idyll; and that it was, and always had been, a very perfect idyll my lord was now convinced. As he neared the house, walking slowly between the box borders and the beds of pinks and roses, he saw her coming down an alley overarched by a trellis covered in sweet-brier. She wore a white dress and a wide straw hat that shaded half her face. On her arm was a flat basket filled with sprays of green. The Earl took off his hat and waited. His elegant, rich appearance seemed out of place in the simple garden, just as the heavy perfume of his clothes mingled curiously with the odours of the flowers. She came towards him, the lovely moving shadows of thorns and leaves cast over her muslin gown, and as she stepped out into the pure faint sunlight she saw him. "Ah, you!" she cried, without restraint or confusion. "You!" She held out her hands, and her face expressed nothing but radiant joy. My lord was moved and thrilled. He kissed the hands that trembled at his touch, and smiled into her eager eyes. "Were you expecting me--Selina?" "To-day?" She was quivering, blushing. The same sweet face, the same low voice, unchanged. "Ah, how could I tell it would be to-day?" "I never wrote," he said, probing her. "I did not expect it. As if there was any need of letters, my lord!" He swung his cane by the gilt tassels, wondering how he should feel his way to her mood. "My father is in the house," she said, "but you have come to see me." "Naturally--to see you!" He gave his half excited, wholly charming laugh. "We will remain out here. Come, I will take you to a place I love." There was no embarrassment nor agitation in her manner; she was calm, unaffected in her welcome. Evidently she had been very sure of his coming. My lord thought of Miss Chressham as he followed her friend down the rose-covered alley. "I am glad that you did not write." Selina Boyle spoke suddenly. He saw her eyes, dark and soft, in the trembling shadow of her hat as they turned to him. She was grave now, and pale, but her expression was that of pure happiness. "I should not have known what to say," answered my lord, also with some gravity, and truth. "I understand it all, without any word from you," she smiled. "Of course, you knew that I should----" They came out on to a square of grass, in the centre of which stood a stone fountain clasped by heavy crimson roses. Beyond was a grove of beech-trees; through the boughs the sunset light fell in a glory; facing the fountain was a garden wall, overgrown with moss and tufts of grass; beneath this a row of straw beehives; the other side was the rose garden, not yet in full bloom, but a revelry of green.