"'I must take a droschkey over to our farmhouse. Do you young people care to come, or would you rather stay here?' "'I think I'll stay, papa, please,' answered Kate. "'And I, to see that nobody runs away with her,' I added with an easy smile. "'Slurk, get me a carriage,' said Mr. Birchmore; and nodding a good-bye to us he went out. "'How far is it from here--this farmhouse, Miss Birchmore?' I asked, when we were alone. "'I believe about two miles.' "'I should like to know its exact situation.' "'Why didn't you go with papa, then?' "'Can't you imagine?' "She had been absently puckering her handkerchief into folds in her lap. Now she looked up. "'Why do you wish to know where we are going?' "'Because I've taken a great fancy to--to Mr. Slurk, and I can't bear to think of losing sight of him!' "I had expected her to laugh and perhaps blush; instead of that an expression of something like terror swept over her face, and she laid her finger on her lip. "'Don't talk of him!' she whispered. "Her emotion had so surprised me that I could only stare in silence. Here was another mystery--or stay! could it be that Slurk was at the bottom of all those strange signs and enigmas that I had been puzzling myself over from the first? I was prepared to believe whatever amount of evil concerning the fellow might be required. But what could he have done, or have it in his power to do, that could so affect Miss Birchmore? Had he held her life or fortune at the mercy of a word she could hardly have betrayed more dismay at my jesting satire. "'It's nothing,' she said, recovering herself after a moment. 'Only I don't like him much, and you--and I wasn't expecting to hear his name just then.' "'Heaven knows, it is a very different name I should have spoken!' "'No, no, no. You have amused yourself with me to-day; and to-morrow, you must find someone else to amuse you, that's all!' "'Amused myself, Miss Birchmore!' "'Well, Mr. Gainsborough, I'm sorry if I failed to entertain you. I'm sure I tried hard. But it's so difficult to entertain an Englishman!' "'Upon my word, I believe you've been laughing at me from the beginning! But however ridiculous I may be, Miss Birchmore, I can have thoughts and feelings that are not ridiculous----' "'Oh, please--please don't be angry. And I'm sure I never thought you ridiculous, I--oh, anything but that!' "The tone, the look which accompanied these last words made me forget caution and self-possession for the moment. 'Miss Birchmore--oh Kate! I cannot lose sight of you--I cannot lose you! Do you care--is it nothing to you if we never meet after to-day? Kate, I love you!' "Had the confession come too soon? Was she offended? She shrank away from me with a searching glance. "'Do not forget yourself, sir! You are an honourable English gentleman. What have you said?' "'I love you--yes, love you!'