'What! not that I was weak enough to fall in love with you at first sight. What more would you have? The rest must bide for another time; but I don't remember just now anything half so heinous as that.' Stephen's heart was very light that evening. Over and over again, when he heard Freda's blithe laugh and when his eyes met hers, he said to himself that he had done a good day's work; that he had drawn a prize in the lottery. CHAPTER XI. 'Dumb with amaze she stood, as a storm-stunned nestling ND so you won't let me come all the way home with you?' asked Stephen discontentedly the next morning. He and Freda were standing together on the crest of the hill just above Hamelford, Lottie having been left behind at Hawkstone. 'No, indeed, I won't. Aunt Becky might offer to embrace you if her feelings were very overpowering; you had much better give her time to cool down first.' 'You seem to expect that she will receive the intelligence with favour,' observed Stephen. I should be sorry to say that. It all de 6 pends upon her mood. She will think it a good match, no doubt,' looking at him merrily; but then, on the other hand, she will lose my valuable services. However, if she is vexed it won't be for the first time; and as to hindering me, it's too late for that now, isn't it?' and with a triumphant smile she left him. She Yes! there was triumph mingling with her deeper gladness; and, walking down the High Street in the bright morning light, she was conscious that she should have a vivid satisfaction in making her announcement to Miss Morton, let her take it as she might. did not take it in either of the two ways Freda had expected. She showed no dismay at the prospect of her single-handed toils; but neither did she display any of the elation which Freda had thought the good match might produce. 'I am going to marry Mr. Redgrave.' So the girl had told her, with scarcely any preface, and for a moment she had answered absolutely nothing. When she did speak, her first impulse, oddly enough, seemed to be to justify herself to wash her hands, as she herself phrased it, of the whole affair. ་ 'Going to marry Mr. Redgrave,' she repeated slowly. Very well; you will do as you like. You have settled it for yourself, and it is not for me to interfere.' Then she rose from her chair, walked to the dresser, for they were in the kitchen, and began shelling beans with her back towards Freda. 'I suppose you are rather surprised? Freda asked, carelessly. People will 'Of course I am surprised. say,' she continued in a sharp high voice, 'that I expected it all along, and that I've wanted to bring it about because he is wellto-do. But that's a likely story, isn't it? If he is well off I don't suppose much of his money will find its way into my pocket; and it can't be for my interest to be left to shift for myself just when I'm getting on in years. 'I'm sure I don't know why people should say any such things,' returned Freda, ready enough to be spiteful. It served my turn, and yours too, to be on good terms with the Redgraves; but how should I know that he'd be falling in love with you, or that you'd have him? Well, as I said before, it's your concern not mine. I wash my hands of it altogether. Only remember,' and she turned round with a sort of vehemence, I never urged your marrying Stephen Redgrave, nor heard so much as a hint of it before. It's your own doing, your own choice.' 'Of course it is my own choice,' said Freda coldly, the old antagonistic feeling rising up strongly within her. 'I don't think you need be at all afraid that I shall ever cast it up against you.' 'And, pray, when is it to be?' asked Miss Morton abruptly, 'for I suppose you've settled it all.' 'No, we have settled nothing. spoke to me yesterday.' He only |