"Oh!" gasped Miss Roberta, blushing again.

"I hope I may have the pleasure of hearing you together some day," said
the Professor, gallantly.

Both ladies smilingly acquiesced, as they depreciated their powers.

And just before their visitor got up to leave, Miss La Sarthe said with
her grand air:

"We hope you find your cottage comfortable. It used to be the land
steward's, before we disposed of the property we no longer required. It
always used to have a very pretty garden, but no doubt it has rather
fallen into decay."

"I shall do my best to repair it," Mr. Carlyon said, "but it will take
some time. I and my servant have already begun to clear the weeds away,
and a new gardener is coming next week."

"Oh, may I help?" exclaimed Halcyone. "I love gardening, and can dig
quite well. I often help William."

"Our old butler does many useful things for us," Miss Roberta explained,
with a slightly conscious air.

And then the adieus were said, Halcyon's first lesson having been
arranged to begin on the morrow.

When the visitor had gone and the door was shut: