Page:Comin' Thro' the Rye (1898).djvu/90

82 for dragon, talking of the weather. In reality he is here every day, and twice a day; but he is not proud or above being towed in and out, and on occasion hidden in the shrubbery or a cupboard. Once or twice it has been a very close shave, and nothing but a special Providence and good luck has saved him from ignominious discovery. Their two faces look rarely well together, dark and fair; the bold, manly beauty of the one against the round, feminine, dainty perfection of the other. I think no woman's face ever shows its beauty to such advantage as when seen beside that of a man. How unweariedly they make love! How untiredly they utter their love-talk, of which now and then a word or two comes to my ears (I always turn my back upon them)—pretty, fanciful, tender stuff, that makes me smile and vaguely stirs my heart. If ever I have a sweetheart (and why should I not, since it is a well-known fact that all the plainest women marry before the good-looking ones, and to be married one must of course be courted) I hope Dolly will make as excellent a gooseberry as I do.

When Charles is paying lawful visits he brings with him a little book, called "The Bundle of Sticks;" where he picked it up it would be hard to say; and this he reads diligently if papa ever comes into the room where they are sitting. The sarcastic twitch of the governor's nose and lips as he looks from the one lover to the other is something to wonder at. Now and then, when his back is safely turned, they go out together for a stirring spin in Charles's dog-cart, in which he drives two fiery grey ponies tandem, and a very charming turn-out it looks, with the two handsome young people smiling over the white rug; and every one thinks so, save the disappointed old and young maids of St. Swithins