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forgot his schemes at this moment. He treated her with as much kindness and delicacy as if she had been his sister or daughter. There was just a chance that this occurrence would have changed his fate, His genius hovered above the two, and strove to turn the current of Nugent's life. It was irreversible. How multitudinous are the regrets of men for what might have been!

The missing mushrooms were collected; the scarlet scarf was picked up; the bull was reconnoitred, to see that no harm had befallen him beyond tenderness of flank; Silvia's bosom was blushfully buttoned; and then the two took their way to Silchester. Walter Nugent chatted gaily, to efface Silvia's fear. He told her wondrous stories of travel. How should he fear a shorthorn bull, who had often ridden on the back of a crocodile? Once a tiger had attacked him when he was unarmed, and he suddenly opened his umbrella, and the animal ran away. He had been chased when bathing

by a shoal of sharks, and had dived under them. He had been embraced by an immense gorilla, and had run his clasp-knife into its spine. He had been carried by a condor to its nest high in the Andes, and had killed the bird and its mate with his revolver, and brought two young condorets down the precipices to the city of Opodeldockamptulikonkorydalis, which is said to be the highest city in the world.

What had he not done? Silvia was delighted with her deliverer. The man who could conquer Roan Tom might well have done all the things he narrated. She believed him absolutely.

"Do come in with me," she said, wher they reached a lodge gate. "My father would like to thank you."

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Ah, but I don't want to be thanked. Besides, my uncle would wonder what has hap

pened if I am not with him at breakfast. If

.

you want to reward me very much, give me half your mushrooms."

"What a reward!" said she. Take what I have more than we can possibly

you will.

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He took some, and dropped them into his side pocket. Then he said:

"So you don't think that sufficient reward for my slight service?"

"No indeed. What other can I give you?"

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Try to love me."

She blushed; looked archly at him; ran

away.

CHAPTER XIII.

SILVIA SOLILOQUIZETH AND DREAMETH.

"Rubies unparagoned."

T is, I assume, improper for even a novelist

IT

to visit in her chamber a young lady whom he has created. This at least appears the verdict of critics in this modest and decorous time, when we have become so singularly virtuous that cakes and ale are quite out of fashion. So I really do not know what to do with Miss Silvia, who, on the day of matutine adventure mentioned in the last chapter, had no opportunity of thinking over her position till she was in the solitude of her chamber.

It chanced to be a busy day. The Squire

had organized an expedition. Somebody had opened a tumulus on an outlying part of his estate, and some coins and fibulæ and urns had been found; and his archæologic instinct was excited. So he determined to drive over in his mail-phaeton and pair; and as Mrs. Silchester was disinclined to go, and Silvester had previously arranged a day's fishing with Musical Willie and his nephew, the Squire was compelled to content himself with his daughter's company. She was a pleasant companion, even to her father-which is not true of all daughters. She chatted pleasantly as they drove away inland to a high bit of moor where the discovery had been made. She tried to wholly forget the adventure and misadventure of the morning, though she felt in her conscience the right thing to do was to tell her father all about it. Ah, but how difficult it is to begin a confession, even to the kindest father confessor, and when you have not to confess any sin of your own!

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