Here Ralph paused, biting his tongue to keep from describing the
picture which rose before him.

"And what," said the minister, tentatively, leaning forward to
look into the open face of the young man, "what is the distinction
or badge of true beauty and favour of countenance, as so well
expressed by the mother of King Lemuel?"

"A LILAC SUNBONNET!" said Ralph Peden, student in divinity.





CHAPTER III.

A TREASURE-TROVE.


Winsome CHARTERIS was a self-possessed maid, but undeniably her
heart beat faster when she found on the brae face, beneath the
bush of broom, two books the like of which she had never seen
before, as well as an open notebook with writing upon it in the
neatest and delicatest of hands. First, as became a prudent woman
of experience, she went up to the top of the hill to assure
herself that the owner of this strange treasure was not about to
return. Then she carefully let down her high-kilted print dress
till only her white feet "like little mice" stole in and out. It
did not strike her that this sacrifice to the conventions was just