But I was young, and had not yet the direful knowledge of good and evil
that comes with years; and he was so very handsome, and talked in a way
that was so new to me, and was so much more charming than the well-bred
converse of the humdrum county families with whom I had occasionally
sojourned for a week at a time.

It came out incidentally that his leave of absence was to expire the
day after to-morrow. A Lilliputian pang of disappointment followed this
announcement. Already I was sorry to lose him. So soon we begin to make a
property of what pleases us.

I was shy, but not awkward. I was flattered by the attention of this
amusing, perhaps rather fascinating, young man of the world; and he plainly
addressed himself with diligence to amuse and please me. I dare say there
was more effort than I fancied in bringing his talk down to my humble
level, and interesting me and making me laugh about people whom I had never
heard of before, than I then suspected.

Cousin Knollys meanwhile was talking to papa. It was just the conversation
that suited a man so silent as habit had made him, for her frolic fluency
left him little to supply. It was totally impossible, indeed, even in our
taciturn household, that conversation should ever flag while she was among
us.

Cousin Knollys and I went into the drawing-room together, leaving the
gentlemen--rather ill-assorted, I fear--to entertain one another for a
time.

'Come here, my dear, and sit near me,' said Lady Knollys, dropping into an