'Yes,' said Lord Chelford, with the same pleasant smile, 'he told me so; and seems so pleased to have met with so clever a pupil. Are you coming to Brandon this evening? Lake asked William Wylder, perhaps he will be with us. I do hope you will come. Dorcas says there is no use in writing; but that you know you are always welcome. May I say you'll come?' Rachel smiled sadly on the snow-drops at her feet, and shook her head a little. 'No, I must stay at home this evening--I mean I have not spirits to go to Brandon. Thank Dorcas very much from me--that is, if you really mean that she asked me.' 'I am so sorry--I am so disappointed,' said Lord Chelford, looking gravely and enquiringly at her. He began, I think, to fancy some estrangement there. 'But perhaps to-morrow--perhaps even to-day--you may relent, you know. Don't say it is impossible.' Rachel smiled on the ground, as before; and then, with a little sigh and a shake of her head, said-- 'No.' 'Well, I must tell Dorcas she was right--you are very inexorable and cruel.' 'I am very cruel to keep you here so long--and I, too, am forgetting the vicar, who will be here immediately, and I must meet him in a costume less like the Woman of Endor.' Lord Chelford, leaning on the little wicket, put his arm over, and she gave him her hand again. 'Good-bye,' said Rachel. 'Well, I suppose I, too, must say good-bye; and I'll say a great deal more,' said he, in a peculiar, odd tone, that was very firm, and yet indescribably tender. And he held her slender hand, from which she had drawn the gauntlet, in his. 'Yes, Rachel, I will--I'll say everything. We are old friends now--you'll forgive me calling you Rachel--it may be perhaps the last time.' Rachel was standing there with such a beautiful blush, and downcast eyes, and her hand in his. 'I liked you always, Rachel, from the first moment I saw you--I liked you better and better--indescribably--indeed, I do; and I've grown to like you so, that if I lose you, I think I shall never be the same again.' There was a very little pause, the blush was deeper, her eyes lower still. 'I admire you, Rachel--I like your character--I have grown to love you with all my heart and mind--quite desperately, I think. I know there are things against me--there are better-looking fellows than I--and--and a great many things--and I know very well that you will judge for yourself--quite differently from other girls; and I can't say with what fear and hope I await what you may say; but this you may be sure of, you will never find anyone to love you better, Rachel--I think so well--and--and now--that is all. Do you think you could _ever_ like me?' But Rachel's hand, on a sudden, with a slight quiver, was drawn from his. 'Lord Chelford, I can't describe how grateful I am, and how astonished, but it could never be--no--never.'