Page:A strange, sad comedy (IA strangesadcomedy00seawiala).pdf/289

Rh fashioned garden. The two girls strolled together down the box-edged walk, and passed under the quaint old arbors, heavy with the yellow jessamine, just beginning then to show the faintly budding leaves. There was something melancholy in the scene. The place had been deserted for so long—and it was now for sale, with the prospect of soon passing into other hands. The graveyard, with its high brick wall, was just below the garden, and, although she could not see it, Letty was conscious of a new white tombstone there with Mr. Romaine's name and "aged 58" engraved upon it—which last had caused Colonel Corbin much dissatisfaction. But Chessingham preferred to carry out what he knew to be Mr. Romaine's wishes in the matter, and believed that his ghost would have walked had his real age been proclaimed upon his monument.

As soon as the two girls were well in the garden, Ethel began, with a glowing face:

"I have had great happiness lately."

"Have you?" asked Letty, sympathetically. "What is it?"

"I am engaged to Sir Archibald Corbin," said Ethel, looking into Letty's face with a