“Encore!  Encore!  Since the days of Hypatia you have not had your equal among female elocutionists.  I would not have missed it for any consideration, so pray forgive me for eavesdropping.”  He came forward, held out his hand and added:  “Allow me to assist you in dismounting from your temporary rostrum, whence you bear your ‘blushing honors thick upon you.’  Jamie, do you think you can do as well as Miss Edna when your time comes?”

“Oh! no, sir; but I will try not to make her ashamed of me.”

He snatched his hat from the log and ran off, leaving his friends to walk back more leisurely to the spot selected for the tables.  Edna had been too much disconcerted by his unexpected appearance, to utter a word until now, and her tone expressed annoyance as she said: 

“I am very sorry you interrupted me, for Jamie will make an ignominious failure.  Have you nothing better to do than stray about the woods like a satyr?”

“I am quite willing to be satyrized even by you on this occasion; for what man, whose blood is not curdled by cynicism, can prefer to spend Mayday among musty law books and red tape, when he has the alternative of listening to such declamation as you favored me with just now, or of participating in the sports of one hundred happy children?  Beside, my good ‘familiar,’ or rather my sortes Proenestinoe, told me that I should find you here; and I wanted to see you before the company assembled:  why have you so pertinaciously avoided me of late?”

They stood close to each other in the shade of the elms, and Gordon thought that never before had she looked so beautiful, as the mild perfumed breeze stirred the folds of her dress, and fluttered the blue ribbons that looped her hair and girdled her waist.

Just at that instant, ere she could reply, a rustling of the undergrowth arrested further conversation, and Mr. Murray stepped out of the adjoining thicket, with his gun in his hand, and his grim pet Ali at his heels.  Whatever surprise he may have felt, his countenance certainly betrayed none, as he lifted his hat and said: 

“Good morning, Leigh.  I shall not intrude upon the Sanhedrim, on which I have happened to stumble, longer than is necessary to ask if you are so fortunate as to have a match with you?  I find my case empty.”

Mr. Leigh took a match from his pocket, and while Mr. Murray lighted his cigar, his eyes rested for an instant only on Edna’s flushed face.

“Are you not coming to the children’s celebration?” asked Gordon.

“No, indeed!  I own that I as lazy as a Turk; but while I am constitutionally and habitually opposed to labor, I swear I should prefer to plough or break stones till sundown, sooner than listen to all the rant and fustian that spectators will be called on to endure this morning.  I have not sufficient courage to remain and witness what would certainly recall ’the manner of Bombastes Furioso making love to Distaffina!’ Will you have a cigar?  Good morning.”