Barry wheeled about with his hearty laugh, and Mrs. Burgoyne,
laughing too, stopped the eager little mouth with a kiss.

"It sounds as if we must certainly have him, Baby!" said she.




CHAPTER VIII

The new mistress of the Hall, in her vigorous young interest in all
things, included naturally a keen enjoyment of the village love
affairs, she liked to hear the histories of the old families all
about, she wanted to know the occupants of every shabby old surrey
that drew up at the post-office while the mail was being "sorted."
But if the conversation turned to mere idle talk and speculation,
she was conspicuously silent. And upon an occasion when Mrs. Adams
casually referred to a favorite little piece of scandal, Mrs.
Burgoyne gave the conversation a sudden twist that, as Mrs. White,
who was present, said later, "made you afraid to call your soul your
own."

"Do you tell me that that pretty little Thorne girl is actually
meeting this young man, whoever he is, while her mother thinks she
is taking a music lesson?" demanded Mrs. Burgoyne, suddenly entering
into the conversation. "There's nothing against him, I suppose? She
COULD see him at home."

"Oh, no, he's a nice enough little fellow," Mrs. White said, "but
she's a silly little thing, and I imagine her people are very severe