A servant rose from the grass, where he had been lying at his ease; came
forward and led away his young mistress's pony, while the lover bade her a
tender good-night, sprang into the saddle again, and presently
disappeared, lost to view amid the trees and the windings of the road,
though the sound of horse's hoofs still came faintly to Elsie's ear as she
stood intently listening, a sweet smile irradiating every feature.

Absorbed in her own thoughts, and in the effort to catch those
fast-retreating sounds, she did not hear a step approaching from behind;
but an arm encircled her waist, and a low-breathed "My darling" woke her
from her reverie.

She looked up, her eyes beaming with affection; "Papa; I am rather late,
am I not?"

"Not very. Hark! the clock is but just striking ten. Come, let us sit down
here for a little. We have hardly had a chat together to-day." He sighed
slightly as he drew her closer to him.

"No, papa dear, there has been so much company," she answered, laying her
head on his shoulder. "And----"

"And what?" as she paused. "Your father used to know all that concerned
you one way or the other. Is he to be shut out from your confidence now?
Ah, I think he must have been for some time past."

"I could not tell you _that_, papa," she murmured, blushing visibly in the
moonlight. "Indeed, I hardly knew it myself till----"

"Till when?"