haste, some of it fell to the floor, which gave the young man a chance
for his frequent light laugh. Miss Deborah began in an agitated way to
pick up the crumbs of cake from her lap, and ask her sister if she did
not think Sarah had come for them. Mr. Denner stopped talking about a new
sort of fly for trout, and said he thought--yes, he really thought, he
had better be going, but he waited to listen with open-mouthed admiration
to the ease with which the young fellow talked.

Mr. Forsythe's conversation was directed to Mrs. Dale, but it was for
Lois; nor did he seem aware of the silence which fell on the rest of
the company. Mrs. Dale enjoyed it. She answered by nods, and small
chuckles of approval, and frequent glances about at the others, as much
as to say, "Do you hear that? Isn't that bright?" and a certain air of
proprietorship, which meant that she thoroughly approved of Mr. Forsythe,
and regarded him as her own discovery.

"This is the time we miss Gifford," said Miss Deborah, who had gone out
into the hall to put on her overshoes. "He was such a useful child." Lois
came to help her, for Mr. Denner was far too timid to offer assistance,
and the rector too stout, and Mr. Dale too absent-minded. As for Mr.
Forsythe, he did not notice how Miss Deborah was occupied, until Lois had
joined her; and then his offer was not accepted, for Miss Deborah felt
shy about putting out her foot in its black kid slipper, tied about the
ankle with a black ribbon, in the presence of this young man, who was,
she was sure, very genteel.

Mr. Forsythe's call was necessarily a short one, for, charming as he was,
Ashurst custom would not have permitted him to stay when the party had
broken up. However, he meant to walk along with the Dales, and hear her
aunt talk about Lois.