"I do not know how to introduce people," she returned, with a happy little laugh. "Miss Holte, this is my big brother, Aubrey--Aubrey, this is Miss Holte, and I love her with all my heart." They both laughed at the quaint introduction. "This is charming, Clara. Now, may I stay for a few minutes and watch the waves with you?" "You must ask Miss Holte," said the child. "Miss Holte, will you give me the required permission?" he inquired. "You must ask Lady Dartelle, Sir Aubrey," she replied, "we are supposed to take our walks by ourselves." The blush and the smile made her so attractive that without another word Sir Aubrey sat down by her side. He was careful to keep Clara in his arms lest Miss Holte should take her by the hand and retire. "How is it, Miss Holte," he said, "that I have not had the pleasure of seeing you before?" "I do not know," she replied, "unless it is because my duties have never brought me into the part of the house where you, Sir Aubrey, happened to be." "I knew Clara had a governess but I did not know--" that she was young and beautiful, he was about to add; but one look at the lovely face checked the words on his lips. "I did not know anything more," he said. "Are you in the habit of coming to the shore every morning?" "Yes," said Clara, "we love the waves." "I wish I were a wave," said Sir Aubrey, laughingly. The child looked up at him with great solemn eyes. "Why, brother?" she asked. "Because then you would love me." "I love you now," said Clara, clasping her arms around his neck and kissing his face. "You are a dear, loving little child," he said, and his voice was so sincere that Miss Holte forgot her shyness and looked at him. He was a tall, stately gentleman; not handsome, but with a face of decision and truth. He had frank, clear eyes, a good mouth, with kindly lines about it, a quantity of clustering hair, and a brown beard. It was a true, good face, and the young governess liked him at once. Nothing in his appearance, however, caused her to take such a deep interest in him, but solely the fact that he was Adrian's friend. Perhaps even that very morning he had been conversing with Adrian--had, perhaps touched his hand. She knew for certain that Adrian had spoken to him of her. Her beautiful eyes lingered on his face as though she would fain read all his thoughts. On his part, Sir Aubrey Dartelle was charmed with the young governess. He said to himself that he had never seen any one half so fair, half so lovely; and he vowed to himself that it should not be his fault if he did not meet her again. CHAPTER XXXIII.