Page 54 (2/2)

far more intimate and familiar than had been possible with the Curtises

after the long separation, and it was enough to have made the two

spectators feel out of place, if such a sensation had been within

Rachel's capacity, or if Alison had not been engaged with the tea Lady

Temple made a few explanations, sotto voce, to Alison, who sufficiently considerate "I do

hope the children have been good; I knew you would not mind; I could not

wait to see you, or I should have been too late to meet the train, and

then he would have come by the coach; and it is such a raw east wind He

must be careful in this climate"

"Hoarm and sunshiny it has been all day," said Rachel, by way of

opposition to some distant echo of this whisper

"Sunshiny, but treacherous," answered Colonel Keith; "there are cold

gusts round corners This must be a very sheltered nook of the coast"

"Quite a different zone frohtful I told you it was just ould suit you," added

Fanny, to the colonel

"Some winds are very cold here," interposed Rachel "I always pity

people who are imposed upon to think it a Mentone near ho our churchyard"