“Oh, something that Rosie said last night quite astonished me, and I was wondering if it were possible she could be right.”

“Right about what?”

“Why, that Chester Dinsmore is deeply in love with you, and that you care something for him too.”

“Oh, what nonsense!” exclaimed Lucilla with a half vexed, yet mirthful look.  “I am only half grown up, as papa always says, and really I don’t care a continental for that young man.  I like him quite well as a friend—­he has always been very polite and kind to me since that time when he came so near cutting my fingers off with his skates—­but it is absurd to think he wants to be anything more than a friend; besides papa doesn’t want me to think about beaux for years to come, and I don’t want to either.”

“I believe you, Lu,” said Grace, “for you are as perfectly truthful a person as anybody could be.  Besides I know I love our father too dearly ever to want to leave him for the best man that ever lived; there couldn’t be a better one than he is, or one who could have a more unselfish love for you and me.”

“Exactly what I think,” returned Lucilla.  “But there’s the call to supper.”

CHAPTER XXI.

“Annis, dear, my ain love, my bonny lass,” Mr. Lilburn said, when at last he could get a moment’s private chat with her, “why condemn me to wait longer for my sweet young wife?  Is it that you fear to trust your happiness to my keeping?”

“Oh, no, not that,” she replied, casting down her eyes, and half turning away her face to hide the vivid blush that mantled her cheek; “but you hardly know yet, hardly understand, what a risk you run in asking me to share your life.”

“Ah,” he said, “my only fear is that you may be disappointed in me; and yet if so, it shall not be for lack of love and tenderest care, for to me it seems that no dearer, sweeter lass ever trod this earth.”

“Ah, you don’t know me!” she repeated, with a slight smile.  “I am not afraid to trust you, and yet I think it would be better for us to wait a little and enjoy the days of courtship.  One reason why I would defer matters is that we will never again have an opportunity to see this wonderful Fair, and I have seen but little of it yet; also I would not willingly miss spending as much time as possible with my dear brother and sisters whom I am about to leave for a home with you, and I must make some preparation in the matter of dress too.”

“Ah, well, my bonny lass, ’if a woman will, she will you may depend on’t, and if she won’t, she won’t and there’s an end on’t.’  So I’ll even give up to you, comforting mysel’ that ye’ll be mine at last; and that in the mean time I shall have your dear companionship while together we explore the streets and buildings of this wonderful White City.”

At that moment others came upon the scene and put an end to the private talk.