Jaquelina was waiting for him under the apple-trees. Her heart thrilled with a strange pleasure as she saw the tall, handsome young man coming toward her. She wore, in anticipation of his coming, a pretty, inexpensive cambric, with a pattern of tiny rose-buds, and a delicate lace frill fastened at her throat with a cluster of roses. He saw that she had grown more delicately lovely since last year. The tanned complexion had acquired a mellow, creamy fairness, the short, soft rings of hair were longer, and clustered on her shoulders in shining luxuriance, the crimson lips had taken a softer, tender curve, the dark eyes had grown dreamy and thoughtful. "You came _alone_?" she said, and there was an accent of surprise in her voice. "Yes, I preferred it. Are you disappointed that Walter and Violet did not accompany me?" he inquired. Jaquelina answered no with pretty frankness, and an utter lack of self-consciousness that was very charming. "I dare say they would think me very selfish if they knew I had come over to the farm alone," he said. "I slipped away from them. I am very selfish sometimes. I want you to sing your pretty songs to an audience of one." "I am quite willing," she replied, happily. She sang several songs for him, pouring out the exquisite melodies clearly and artlessly as a bird. Ronald said to himself that it was wonderful what a voice the girl had, so strong and sweet and clear that she made him think of Shelley's sky-lark-- "Pouring his full heart In profuse strains of unpremeditated art." He remained with her fully two hours. It did not seem to him so long. The time went very fast looking at that fair face and listening to that musical voice. For a wonder Mrs. Meredith did not call her to the house for anything. Dollie had grown large enough to walk and run alone, and did not need so much attention. "Is it true that you are going to become a governess?" he said to her. "Violet Earle told me so this morning." "Yes, if I can find a situation," she replied. "Do you think I shall be likely to find one, Mr. Valchester?" There was a wistful anxiety in the sweet voice. He looked at the fair young face thoughtfully. A slanting ray of sunlight pierced the green boughs of the tree and penciled her white brow with a finger of light that brought out its child-like innocence more clearly. "No, I hardly think you will be successful," he replied. "You do not?" she said, and he saw the red lips quiver. "Why not, Mr. Valchester? I have studied very hard and learned a great deal since I have been away at school." "You look too young," he replied. "No one would like to engage one who appeared so childish. You look too inexperienced." "Do you really think that would weigh against me?" she asked, distressed. "I assure you my looks are very deceptive. I am eighteen." "Quite a venerable age," he laughed. "Yet still very young for an instructor of youth."