It was to Giles she gave her best affection, to Lois most reverence and devotion. But to Christian went a subtle tribute, spontaneous even in an innocent convent-girl, to an admirable make of manhood; some quick shivers of relief that a certain widower with yellow teeth did not possess her. And in Christian thrilled an equivalent response; though he knew not how Rhoda's maiden charm, her winning grace, her shadow even, her passing breath, evoked unaware, with a keen, blissful sting at heart, vivid remembrance of the sea-witch Diadyomene. 'She likes the old hunks best of the lot,' said Giles with complaisance. 'My bright little bird! There's never a one of you young fellows stands to cut me out.' He cocked an eye at Christian. 'Now Philip comes along, and will have her for seeing the caught frigate-bird. And off she is flying, when back she skims and will have me too. Oh! but he looked less than sweet, and he's a fine figure too for a maid's eye, and a lad of taste--he is.' 'He! May be, for his fancies are ever on the brew, hot or cold,' said Christian in scorn. 'She's a rare pretty wench, and a good,' said Giles, with a meditative eye. 'She is: too rare and good for any of Philip's make; an even blend of conceit and laziness is he.' 'That's so, that's so,' returned Giles coolly to this heat, 'but I don't say he would make a bad pair for just so much as the boundary walk.' 'How!' said Christian 'but she will walk with me--she's my cousin.' 'Have you asked her?' 'No.' 'Well, I think she's worth an asking. She's shy, and she's nice, and she's got a spirit too, and more than one, I wager, won't be backward. Rhoda! Rhoda! why, what's this grave face you are bringing us, my pretty?' The girl's eyes addressed Christian's with childlike candour and wonder. 'Why is it,' she said, 'that the mother of that tall Philip doubles her thumb when you pass by?' He flushed with knit brows, but laughed and jested: 'I guess because she does not like the colour of my hair.' But Rhoda had noted a pause, and a quick turn of the eye upon Giles. 'When the boundary is walked, Rhoda, will you pair with me?' 'Oh!' she said, 'Philip wanted to bespeak me, and I said him no, till my uncle should have had the refusal of me first.' She curtsied before the old man in bright solicitation. 'Ah! my maid, here's a lame leg that can't manage the steep. You must take my proxy, Christian here.' 'But that's another matter,' she said; 'I doubt if I be free.' Christian's face clouded, but he had no notion of pressing her to exchange obligation for inclination. When he was away, Rhoda asked, troubled and timid: 'I have vexed him. Is it for this? or that I was curious----' 'About that doubled thumb? Not that. He'll clear that to you himself if I know him. Well, then, I will, to spare it him.' He set forth Christian's position and the ordeal not yet quite suspended.