‘O, nothing—­talking,—­they wanted to know how I got home,’ said Wych, an amused look betraying itself.  Then quitting Primrose, she went forward a little to receive the farewell addresses of several gentlemen who preferred to see Miss Kennedy alone.  The group began to clear away.  Prim’s eye watched her, in her graceful, pretty self-possession, as she met and returned the parting salutation; and then went over by some instinct to where another eye was watching her too, with a contented sparkle in its intentness.  That was only a second, though.  Rollo had no mind to have all the world know what he was thinking about; and even as her glance found him, his turned away.  The strangers being at last disposed of, those remaining began a slow procession towards the house.  But a parting word of Mr. Nightingale’s must be noted.

‘Any chance for a ride to the wood to-morrow?’ he said, with tones so modulated that he thought his words safe.  And she answered: 

’O, my horses have not come.  There will be little riding for me yet a while.’

‘And these are the Chickaree woods?’ said Dr. Maryland, as they walked on.  ’How beautiful they are!  Are you very happy, Hazel, in the hope of being the mistress of all this?’

’Why I thought—­I call myself the mistress now, sir.  Is it an uncertainty dependent on my good behaviour?’ she said with a laugh.

’You know you are not of age, my dear; but I suppose Mr. Falkirk gives you the essentials of dominion.  Do you feel at home yet?’

’Very much!  You know, sir, I have just a little remembrance of the old time—­when mamma was here—­to begin with.  But how heedless I am!’ she said, abruptly putting the little basket which had been swinging from her hand into the hands of Dr. Maryland.  ’There, sir,—­will you take some refreshment by the way?’ Then turning to Primrose, Miss Kennedy laid the fragrant weight of hot-house flowers upon her.

‘Are these from your garden?’ said Primrose, somewhat bewildered.  While Dr. Maryland, putting his fingers without scruple in among the black and white strawberries, asked in an approving tone of voice:  ’Have you been picking these yourself, my dear?’

‘I—­picked them up, sir,’ said Hazel with the laugh in her voice.  ’Not off the vines, however.  They are hothouse flowers,’ she answered to Primrose.  ’When my houses are in order you shall have them every day.’

‘They are very good,’ said Dr. Maryland gravely, eating away.  ‘Where did you get them, my dear?’

‘Mr. May brought them, sir,’ said the girl, looking down now, and walking straight on.

‘Mr. May!’ echoed Dr. Maryland.  ’How comes Mr. May to be bringing you strawberries?  And those flowers too?’ glancing over at Primrose’s full hands.

‘No, sir, Mr. Burr brought the flowers.’

‘You are a fearful man for asking questions, sir,’ said Rollo, with a flash of fun in his face.

‘Questions?’ said the doctor, picking out the black strawberries abstractedly,—­’I’ve a right to ask her questions.  The strawberries are good!—­but I wish Mr. May had not brought them.’