CHAPTER VIII.

IN WHICH CAPTAIN LAKE TAKES HIS HAT AND STICK.


So the young people sitting in the little drawing-room of Redman's farm
pursued their dialogue; Rachel Lake had spoken last, and it was the
captain's turn to speak next.

'Do you remember Miss Beauchamp, Radie?' he asked rather suddenly, after
a very long pause.

'Miss Beauchamp? Oh! to be sure; you mean little Caroline; yes, she must
be quite grown up by this time--five years--she promised to be pretty.
What of her?'

Rachel, very flushed and agitated still, was now trying to speak as
usual.

'She _is_ good-looking--a little coarse some people think,' resumed the
young man; 'but handsome; black eyes--black hair--rather on a large
scale, but certainly handsome. A style I admire rather, though it is not
very refined, nor at all classic. But I like her, and I wish you'd advise
me.' He was talking, after his wont, to the carpet.

'Oh?' she exclaimed, with a gentle sort of derision.

'You mean,' he said, looking up for a moment, with a sudden stare, 'she