He was furious at the indignity done to him personally by this barefaced and audacious pursuit of his son and heir; and the impression it gave him of Norah's outrageous boldness, and even shamelessness, was, as we shall soon see, of no small importance in the history of our heroine.

Martha, this must be stopped,' he said, when he had somewhat recovered himself.

'But you must on no account speak of it to Reid-I promised Ann that you would not.' She was herself nearly as anxious as Ann to prevent any remonstrance with Reid by his father, which might lead to a rupture between them.

"You should not have given such a promise,' he said severely, though in his heart he was glad it had been given. He began to stand in some awe of his son, chiefly, perhaps, because Reid seldom now spoke in his presence.

6

But Reid will be away all to-morrow, and

she goes the next day. There's only this after

noon and evening,' pleaded Mrs. Summers feebly.

'She mustn't be left for a moment,' he pronounced peremptorily, as though Norah were a dangerous lunatic.

In accordance with this instruction, meek Mrs. Summers followed Norah about in a preposterously aimless way back and forward even across the room!

123

CHAPTER XXIII.

A SUNDAY-SCHOOL CLASS.

What hempen home-spuns have we swaggering here?
A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Ann,

MRS. SUMMERS' relief may be imagined when she watched Reid drive off the next morning to catch an early train for Selbysedge. She at once relaxed her officious vigilance, and allowed Norah out on a ticket-of-leave. too, put off the irksome assumption of cordiality and her coolness restored Norah to Carrie's good graces. Miles also was greatly relieved by Reid's departure. He was fast getting exasperated by Mrs. Summers' fatuous and fussy protection of Reid from Norah's relentless talons It reminded him of nothing so much as of the distracted fume of a hen following in defiance all round a farmyard a strange dog which seemed to

menace its solitary chick. No doubt the conception of Reid Summers as a callow chick, of Norah as a swooping hawk, and of Mrs. Summers as an alert, bold, and perfect protectress was ludicrous enough to rob his rage of half its sting. Still, enough remained to make Miles thankful to see Reid on the dog-cart-if only on this ground of relief from the insult of his mother's police protection of him from Norah. But, besides this, he had other and deeper reasons for rejoicing over this good riddance of Reid; for he felt sure that, if Norah had given him any encouragement, or rather, if she had not discouraged him most pointedly, Reid would have given up his shooting expedition to accompany the picnic party.

But of all the relieved household Norah was the most rejoiced. In the misery of her mortification at the way she was ignored as non-existent by Mr. Summers, watched by Ann and dogged by Mrs. Summers, she either maintained a sullen silence utterly uncongenial

to her, or said sharp things of which she was afterwards ashamed-both her speech and her silence being naturally construed by Reid's protectors as significant of her disappointment at the escape of her prey. But it is right to say of Reid's protectors that they did their spiriting, if not gently, effectively; much more effectively than they imagined. For Norah's spirit was so high that nothing now would have persuaded her to accept him, even if she had cared for him. As it was, they succeeded in converting her feeling of friendliness towards him into one almost of repulsion. Little did he think as he took his hat off to her in departing that she would not be desolated if she never saw him again.

An hour and a half after his departure the carriage came round to take the Serborne Abbey party to the train-Ann, Carrie, and Norah. There was the usual storm with Effie, who insisted on being taken, and yelled like one possessed when pushed promptly aside by