afternoon. But Sunday was no day for the picture.

On Monday the thing had become of importance to him. Things always
do when they are kept over. Before tea that evening when he came
down Mrs. Bell and Susan only were in the room. He knew Hetta for
his foe, and therefore determined to use this occasion.

"Miss Susan," he said, stammering somewhat, and blushing too, poor
fool! "I have done a little drawing which I want you to accept,"
and he put his portfolio down on the table.

"Oh! I don't know," said Susan, who had seen the blush.

Mrs. Bell had seen the blush also, and pursed her mouth up, and
looked grave. Had there been no stammering and no blush, she might
have thought nothing of it.

Aaron saw at once that his little gift was not to go down smoothly.
He was, however, in for it now, so he picked it out from among the
other papers in the case and brought it over to Susan. He
endeavoured to hand it to her with an air of indifference, but I
cannot say that he succeeded.

It was a very pretty, well-finished, water-coloured drawing,
representing still the same bridge, but with more adjuncts. In
Susan's eyes it was a work of high art. Of pictures probably she
had seen but little, and her liking for the artist no doubt added to
her admiration. But the more she admired it and wished for it, the
stronger was her feeling that she ought not to take it.