"You mustn't fret really, missie," she said. "All the doctor requires is that my dear master should have no anxiety of any sort. I am sure, miss, you would be the very last to give him any; and as we will all be equally careful, he will soon come round again." "Of course I wouldn't hurt Uncle Maurice," cried Annie. "What is he doing at present?" she added. "He is asleep in his study, my dear; and I am going to watch by him this afternoon, for Dr Brett has given him a composing draught, and would like him to have a long rest. When he wakes I shall be handy to give him his tea. So I was thinking that if you and Mr Saxon went for a long walk it would do you both a sight of good." "Yes, do come, please," said Saxon, who approached at that moment. "I want to see some of the country that you think so wild." "I shall be delighted," said Annie, who felt that this proposal of Mrs Shelf's would exactly fit in with her own plans. Soon after three o'clock the young people started on their walk. Annie took her cousin on purpose up the hill at the back of the old Rectory and into the wildest part of the pariah, for she was determined to have him quite to herself. At last, when she was too tired to go any farther, they both sat down on the edge of a beetling crag, from where they could obtain a superb view both of land and ocean. "Now," said Annie, with a smile, "if you don't call this a wild and desolate spot, I don't know the meaning of the word." "The view is exceedingly fine," replied Saxon; "but as to its being wild--why, look, Miss Annie, look--you can see a little thread of smoke there"--and he pointed to his right--"and there"--he pointed to his left; "in fact, all over the place. Each little thread of blue smoke," he continued, "means a house, and each house means a family, or at least some human beings; and in addition to the human creatures, there are probably horses, and dogs, and cats, and barn-door fowls. Oh, I call this place thickly-peopled, if you ask me." Annie shuddered. "I hate it," she said with sudden emphasis. "You what?" asked Saxon, bending towards her. "Hate it," she repeated. "I want to get away." "You can't just now," he said, speaking in a low, sympathetic tone. "It would be impossible--would it not?--while your uncle is so ill." "He isn't really ill," said Annie; "he just wants care." "He wants the sort of care you can give him," repeated Saxon. "Or you," said Annie. "I?" said the young man. "How can I possibly do what you would do for him?" "You can do far better than I," said Annie restlessly. "And the fact is, Cousin John--may I call you Cousin John?" "Call me John, without the `cousin,' as I will call you Annie if you don't mind." "Then we are Annie and John to each other," said the girl; "that means that we are friends. Give me your hand, John, to close the compact." She laid her little white hand in his, and he grasped it with right goodwill.