"Not I!" said he. "I am not tired till I have done, Fairy. And besides, cheese is working man's fare, you know, isn't it?"

“No,” said Fleda gravely, “I don't think it is.”

"What then?" said Mr. Carleton, stopping as he was about to spring into the tree, and looking at her with a face of comical amusement.

"It isn't what our men live on,” said Fleda, demurely eyeing the fallen nuts, with a head full of business.

They set both to work again with renewed energy, and rested not till the treasures of the trees had been all brought to the ground, and as large a portion of them as could be coaxed and shaken into Fleda's basket had been cleared from the hulls and bestowed there. But there remained a vast quantity. These, with a good deal of labour, Mr. Carleton and Fleda gathered into a large heap in rather a sheltered place by the side of a rock, and took what measures they might to conceal them. This was entirely at Fleda's instance. "You and your maid Cynthia will have to make a good many journeys, Miss Fleda, to get all these home, unless you can muster a larger basket." "Oh, that's nothing," said Fleda. "It will be all fun. I don't care how many times we have to come.

"Do you think so?" said he. your wand rest on me, Fairy."

"My wand?" said Fleda.

You are very good, Mr. Carleton."

"I wish I did. I wish you would make

"Yes--you know your grandfather says you are a fairy and carry a wand. What does he say that for, Miss Fleda?"

Fleda said she supposed it was because he loved her so much; but the rosy smile with which she said it would have let her hearer, if he had needed enlightening, far more into the secret than she was herself. And if the simplicity in her face had not been equal to the wit, Mr. Carleton would never have ventured the look of admiration he bestowed on her. He knew it was safe. Approbation she saw, and it made her smile the rosier; but the admiration was a step beyond her; Fleda could make nothing of it.

They descended the mountain now with a hasty step, for the day was wearing well on. At the spot where he had stood so long when they went up, Mr. Carleton paused again for a minute. In mountain scenery every hour makes a change. The sun was lower now, the lights and shadows more strongly contrasted, the sky of a yet calmer blue, cool and clear towards the horizon. The scene said still the same that it had said a few hours before, with a touch more of sadness; it seemed to whisper, "All things have an end-thy time may not be for ever-do what thou wouldest do—' while ye have light believe in the light that ye may be children of the light.'

Whether Mr. Carleton read it so or not, he stood for a minute motionless and went down the mountain looking so grave that Fleda did not venture to speak to him till they reached the neighbourhood of the spring.

"What are you searching for, Miss Fleda?" said her friend.

She was making a busy quest here and there by the side of the little

stream.

"I was looking to see if I could find a mullein leaf," said Fleda.

"A mullein leaf? What do you want it for?"

"I want it to make a drinking-cup of," said Fleda, her intent bright eyes peering keenly about in every direction.

"A mullein leaf! that is too rough; one of these golden leaves-what are they?—will do better, won't it?" "That is hickory," said Fleda. because it holds the water so nicely.

"No; the mullein leaf is the best, Here it is!"

And folding up one of the largest leaves into a most artist-like cup, she presented it to Mr. Carleton.

"For me was all that trouble?" said he. "I don't deserve it.' "You wanted something, sir," said Fleda.

and nice."

"The water is very cold

He stooped to the bright little stream and filled his rural goblet several times.

"I never knew what it was to have a fairy for my cupbearer before," said he. "That was better than anything Bordeaux or Xeres ever sent forth." He seemed to have swallowed his seriousness, or thrown it away with the mullein leaf. It was quite gone.

"This is the best spring in all grandpa's ground," said Fleda. "The water is as good as can be."

"How come you to be such a wood and water spirit? You must live out of doors. Do the trees ever talk to you? I sometimes think they do to

me."

"I don't know. I think I talk to them," said Fleda. "It's the same thing," said her companion smiling. woods!"

"Were you never in the country before in the fall, sir?"

"Such beautiful

"Not here; in my own country often enough; but the woods in England do not put on such a gay face, Miss Fleda, when they are going to be stripped of their summer dress; they look sober upon it; the leaves wither and grow brown, and the woods have a dull russet colour. Your trees are true Yankees they never say die !'"

"Why, are the Americans more obstinate than the English?" said Fleda.

"It is difficult to compare unknown quantities," said Mr. Carleton, laughing and shaking his head. "I see you have good ears for the key. note of patriotism."

Fleda looked a little hard at him, but he did not explain; and indeed they were hurrying along too much for talking; leaping from stone to

stone, and running down the smooth orchard slope. When they reached the last fence, but a little way from the house, Fleda made a resolute pause. "Mr. Carleton," said she.

Mr. Carleton put down his basket, and looked in some surprise at the hesitating anxious little face that looked up at him.

"Won't you please not say anything to grandpa about my going away?"

66

Why not, Fairy ?" said he kindly.

"Because I don't think I ought to go."

"But may it not be possible,” said he, “that your grandfather can judge better in the matter than you can do?"

"No," said Fleda, "I don't think he can. He would do anything he thought would be most for my happiness; but it wouldn't be for my happiness," she said, with an unsteady lip; "I don't know what he would do if I went!"

"You think he would have no sunshine if your wand didn't touch him ?" said Mr. Carleton smiling.

"No, sir," said Fleda gravely, "I don't think that; but won't you please, Mr. Carleton, not to speak about it?"

"But are you sure," he said, sitting down on a stone hard by and taking one of her hands, are you sure that you would not like to go with us? I wish you would change your mind about it. My mother will love you very much, and I will take the especial charge of you till we give you to your aunt in Paris. If the wind blows a little too rough, I will always put myself between it and you," he added, smiling.

Fleda smiled faintly, but immediately begged Mr. Carleton "not to say anything to put into her grandfather's head."

"It must be there already, I think, Miss Fleda; but at any rate you know my mother must perform her promise to your aunt, Mrs. Rossitur ; and she would not do that without letting your grandfather know how glad she would be to take you.'

Fleda stood silent a moment, and then, with a touching look of waiting patience in her sweet face, suffered Mr. Carleton to help her over the fence; and they went home.

To Fleda's unspeakable surprise it was found to be past four o'clock, and Cynthy had supper ready. Mr. Ringgan with great cordiality invited Mr. Carleton to stay with them, but he could not; his mother would expect him to dinner.

"Where is your mother?"

"At Montepoole, sir. We have been to Niagara, and came this way on our return; partly that my mother might fulfil the promise she made Mrs. Rossitur to let you know, sir, with how much pleasure she will take charge of your little granddaughter and convey her to her friends in Paris, if you can think it best to let her go."

"How

“Hum !—she is very kind,” said Mr. Ringgan, with a look of grave and not unmoved consideration which Fleda did not in the least like. long will you stay at Montepool, sir?"

It might be several days, Mr. Carleton said.

"Hum!-You have given up this day to Fleda, Mr. Carleton; suppose you take to-morrow for the game, and come here and try our country fare when you have got through shooting-you and young Mr. Rossitur? and I'll think over this question and let you know about it."

Fleda was delighted to see that her friend accepted this invitation with apparent pleasure.

"You will be kind enough to give my respects to your mother," Mr. Kinggan went on, "and thanks for her kind offer. I may perhaps I don't know-avail myself of it. If anything should bring Mrs. Carleton this way, we should like to see her. I am glad to see my friends," he said, shaking the young gentleman's hand, "as long as I have a house to ask 'em to !"

"That will be for many years, I trust," said Mr. Carleton respectfully, struck with something in the old gentleman's manner.

"I don't know, sir," said Mr. Ringgan, with again the dignified look of trouble; "it may not be. I wish you good-day, sir.'

"I

CHAPTER IV.

A mind that in a calm angelic mood

Of happy wisdom, meditating good,

Beholds, of all from her high powers required,

Much done, and much designed, and more desired.—Wordsworth.

'VE had such a delicious day, dear grandpa,” said little Fleda as they sat at supper; "you can't think how kind Mr. Carleton has been." "Has he? Well dear-I'm glad on't, he seems a very nice young

man.

"He's a smart-lookin' feller," said Cynthy, who was pouring out tea. "And we have got the greatest quantity of nuts!" Fleda went on, "enough for all winter. Cynthy and I will have to make ever so many journeys to fetch 'em all; and they are splendid big ones. Don't you say anything to Mr. Didenhover, Cynthy."

I don't desire to meddle with Mr. Didenhover unless I've got to," said Cynthy with an expression of considerable disgust.

charges to me."

"But you'll go with me, Cynthy?"

"You needn't give no

"I s'pose I'll have to," said Miss Gall drily, after a short interval of sipping tea and helping herself to sweetmeats.

This lady had a pervading acidity of face and temper, but it was no more. To take her name as standing for a fair setting forth of her character would be highly injurious to a really respectable composition, which the world's neglect (there was no other imaginable cause) had soured a little.

Almost Fleda's first thought on coming home had been about Mr. Jolly. But she knew very well, without asking, that he had not been there; she would not touch the subject.

"I haven't had such a fine day of nutting in a great while, grandpa,” she said again; "and you never saw such a good hand as Mr. Carleton is at whipping the trees.”

"How came he to go with you ?"

"I don't know, I suppose it was to please me, in the first place; but I am sure he enjoyed it himself; and he liked the pie and cheese, too, Cynthy."

"Where did your cousin go?"

"Oh, he went off after the woodcock. I hope he didn't find any."

"What do you think of those two young men, Fairy?"

"In what way, grandpa?"

66 I mean, which of them do you like the best ?"

"Mr. Carleton."

"But t'other one's your cousin,” said Mr. Ringgan, bending forward and examining his little granddaughter's face with a curious pleased look, as he often did when expecting an answer from her.

"Yes," said Fleda, “but he isn't so much of a gentleman.”

"How do you know that?”

"I don't think he is," said Fleda quietly.

"But why, Fairy?

"He doesn't know how to keep his word as well, grandpa.'

"Ay, ay? let's hear about that," said Mr. Ringgan.

A little reluctantly, for Cynthia was present, Fleda told the story of the robins, and how Mr. Carleton would not let the gun be fired.

"Wa'n't your cousin a little put out by that?"

"They were both put out," said Fleda; "Mr. Carleton was very angry for a minute; and then Mr. Rossitur was angry, but I think he could havebeen angrier if he had chosen."

Mr. Ringgan laughed, and then seemed in a sort of amused triumph about something. "Well, dear!" he remarked after a while, "you'll never buy wooden nutmegs, I expect."

Fleda laughed and hoped not, and asked him why he said so. But he didn't tell her.

"Mr. Ringgan," said Cynthy, "hadn't I better run up the hill after supper, and ask Mis' Plumfield to come down and help to-morrow? I s'pose you'll want considerable of a set-out; and if both them young men