It was a proof now gayly and sweetly she took the popular vote, that she bore so easily his defalcation.  Vanity was not one of her pet follies; and besides, that morning’s work had brought on Miss Hazel an unwonted fit of grave propriety; she was a little inclined to keep herself in the background.  Amuse her the admiration did, however.  It was funny to see Mr. Kingsland forsake billiards and come to quote Tennyson to her; Dr. Maryland’s shy, distant homage was more comical yet; and the tender little mouth began to find out its lines and dimples and power of concealment.  But the young heart had a good share of timidity, and that stirred very often; making the colour flit to and fro ’like the rosy light upon the sky’—­ Mr. Kingsland originally observed; while Dr. Maryland looked at the evening star and was silent.  Compliments!—­how they rained down upon her; how gayly she shook them off.  And as to Mr. Rollo, if there was anything Miss Hazel disliked it was to submit to guidance; and she had been obliged to follow him out of the woods:  and if he had presumed to admire her in the same style in which he had guided her, she felt quite sure there would have been a sparring match.  Besides—­but ‘besides’ is a feminine postscript; it would be a breach of confidence to translate it.

CHAPTER VI.

THE RED SQUIRREL

One brilliant night, Mr. Falkirk pacing up and down the piazza, Wych Hazel came and joined him; clasping both hands on his arm.

‘Mr. Falkirk,’ she said softly, ’when are we going to Chickaree?’

‘I have no information, Miss Hazel.’

’Then I can tell you, sir.  We take the “owl” stage day after to-morrow morning,—­and we tell nobody of our intention.’  And Wych Hazel’s finger made an impressive little dent in Mr. Falkirk’s arm.

‘Why that precaution?’ he inquired.

’Pity to break up the party, sir,—­they seem to be enjoying themselves,’—­And a soft laugh of mischief and fun rang out into the moonlight.

‘Is this arrangement expected to be carried into effect?’

‘Certainly, sir.  If my guardian approves,’ said Miss Hazel, submissively.

‘What’s become of her other guardian?’ said an old lady, possessing herself of Mr. Falkirk’s left arm.

‘My other guardian!’ said the young lady, expressively.

‘She has no other,’ said Mr. Falkirk, very distinctly.

‘Have you broken the will?’

‘No madam,’ said Mr. Falkirk.  ’As it often happens in this world, something has reached your ears in a mistaken form.’

‘What something was it?’ said Wych Hazel.

‘A false report, my dear,’ Mr. Falkirk says.  Which did not quite satisfy the questioner at the time, but was soon forgotten in the rush of other things.