How sweet and still it was! The openness of the horizon, the distance, was the thing that did Lottie good. She cast her eyes to the very farthest limit of the world that lay within her sight and drew a long breath. Perhaps it was this that caught the attention of some one who was passing. Lottie had seated herself in a corner under a tree, and she did not see this wayfarer, who was behind her; and the reader knows that she did not sigh for sorrow, but only to relieve a bosom which was very full of fanciful anticipations, hopes, and dreams. It was not likely, however, that Mr. Ashford would know that. He too was taking his evening walk; and when he heard the sigh in which so many tender and delicious fancies exhaled into the air, he thought--who could wonder?--that it was somebody in trouble; and, drawing a little nearer to see if he could help, as was the nature of the man, found to his great surprise--as she, too, startled, turned round her face upon him--that it was Lottie Despard who was occupying the seat which was his favourite seat also. They both said “I beg your pardon” simultaneously, though it would be hard to tell why. “I think I have seen you here before,” he said. “You like this time of the evening, Miss Despard, like myself--and this view?” “Yes,” said Lottie; “but I have been sitting indoors all the afternoon, and got tired of it at last. I did not like to come out all by myself; but I thought no one would see me now.” “Surely you may come here in all safety by yourself.” The Minor Canon had too much good breeding to suggest any need of a companion or any pity for the girl left alone. Then he said suddenly, “This is an admirable chance for me. The first time we met, Miss Despard, you mentioned something about which you wished to consult me----” “Ah!” cried Lottie, coming back out of her dreams. Yes, she had wanted to consult him, and the opportunity must not be neglected. “It was about Law, Mr. Ashford. Law--his name is Lawrence, you know, my brother; he is a great boy, almost a man--more than eighteen. But I am afraid he is very backward. I want him so very much to stand his examination. It seems that nothing--nothing can be done without that now.” “His examination--for what?” “Oh, Mr. Ashford,” said Lottie, “for anything! I don’t mind what it is. I thought, perhaps, if you would take him it would make him see the good of working. We are--poor; I need not make any fuss about saying that; here we are all poor; and if I could but see Law in an office earning his living, I think,” cried Lottie, with the solemnity of a martyr, “I think I should not care what happened. That was all. I wanted him to come to you, that you might tell us what he would be fit for.” “He would make a good soldier,” said Mr. Ashford, smiling; “though there is an examination for that too.”