chary of your company lately, I thought that would
be hardly fair.”

“J was not chary of my company till I saw it
was not wanted,” said Escott.

“What have we done then?” said Winny.
“Escott, is it that you have been bearing malice
all this time because of what I said about Mr.
Smith ?”

“No,” said Escott, “but I’ve seen plainly
enough that you think me a brute, when any one
more suited to you comes in the way. That is
what it is, Winny, and you are about right,” he
added bitterly. ‘But bad as I am, I have cared
for you, and loved you as much as aman can ; and
flesh and blood can’t stand it, when I see that you
don’t care!”

“That I don’t care!” said Winny, perfectly
astounded at the accusation.

“No; you can talk and laugh with that ass
Burnet, for instance, when you won’t sax a word to
me. And I tell you plainly, Winny, if I am not
out and out bad, it is because I have had the hope of
you before my eyes, and if you take that away—”

What Winny would have said cannot be told:
for at this moment up came Aunt Immy and Mr,
Burnet. How she longed for one minute more!
But it was of no use. At the sight of Mr. Burnet
the cloud came down again over Escott’s face: he
said grimly, ‘“ You have a better escort now, so I
will say good-bye ;” and without lifting his eyes to
meet Winny’s appealing glance, he walked away.

Mr. Burnet accompanied them to the Panelled
House, and somewhat astonished Winny by entering
without invitation. Aunt Immy, however, took it
as a matter of course ; and Winny ran up to her
room to take off her out-door garments, followed
by Aunt Hermy.

Aunt Hermy put her arms round her, looked
meaningly into her face, and then said “I think I
must prepare you a little, Winny. Do you know
what Mr. Burnet is come for ?”

“To propose to Nest ?” said Winny : for these
very sharp-witted and practical little damsels do
sometimes unaccountably fail to see what is patent
to every one else.

“No, my dear,” said Aunt Hermy, rather taken
aback. “It is you, Winny. Isee it is a great sur-
prise to you : but don’t answer ina hurry, dear child.
We all think he is just the right sort of man for
you—so steady and sensible, just the ballast our
giddy little woman wants.”

Upon which Winny sat down on a chair, and said,
“Oh no, indeed, Aunt Hermy! I can’t possibly ie
and laughed a little hysterically : after which she
laid her head down on the table, and burst into a
flood of tears.

} “My dear child!” said Aunt Hermy, not under-
standing what could be the cause of Winny’s

LTHE PANELLED HOUSE.

265

distress, which was evidently more than a mere
nervous fluster. Presently, however, she con-
trolled herself with an effort, and said, ‘‘ Won’t he
be contented without seeing me, Aunt Hermy ?
For really I am very sorry, but it is no use what-
ever his coming here.”

“My dear Winny, don’t be too hasty. I would
not for the world persuade you to think of accept-
ing a man if you don’t care for him ; but Mr. Bur-
net is so excellent in every way! Let me go to
him, and say that you can’t answer him suddenly,
but that you will consider the question.”

“Oh, Aunt Hermy, I can’t say that, indeed! I
couldn’t accept him if I considered for ever so
long! I can’t think,” said Winny, relapsing into
tears, “why it is that other people can laugh and
talk with their friends as much as ever they like,
and if I just have a little fun with an old thing like
Mr. Burnet, that I should have thought as safe
as—as—Adam,—I get into trouble directly !”

“My dear child, you must learn to be more
guarded in future,’ said Aunt Hermy, looking
grave. Poor Aunt Hermy! she had never had
any love-experiences of her own, and no motherly
instinct to tell her what was the right way to treat
this poor little Winny, whose nature was so unlike
hers. Any thing but kind it was impossible for her
to be: but kindness alone, grateful though it might
prove, did not make up to the girl for the utter
want of comprehension, involving want of sym-
pathy, between her and her aunt.

None the less, however, did she take upon
herself the disagreeable task of dismissing Winny’s
rejected lover, in order to spare the child. Perhaps
she gave him more hope for the future than Winny
herself would have done ; for Aunt Hermy, having
that strong love of match-making which we often
see in maiden ladies who live very retired lives,
could not divest herself of the thought that the two
would make an ideal pair, and that time must make
Winny perceive the various excellences of her
suitor.

Then came luncheon, and Nest, who had been
with Mrs. Heydon upon parochial business, came
in to find the household in commotion: Winny
with crimson cheeks, unable to eat as much as
would have satisfied a canary: and Aunt Hermy
and Aunt Immy both looking flustered, and carry-
ing on communication with their eyes, which meant
unutterable things in Aunt Immy’s case. No
sooner was the meal over than Aunt Immy sent
the two girls into the drawing-room, planted her-
self before the fire, and said, “ Stop, Hermy : don’t
ring yet. I believe I can tell you why that child
has refused Mr. Burnet, and it’s a pretty kettle of
fish too.”

“Why?”

“Jt’s Jane Heydon who has put me up to it ; I