him the first time they met alone if he knew anything of Ernest. Soon after dinner there came a violent thunder shower, accompanied with hail, which did a great deal of damage. The hailstones were very large, coming with such force as to shiver into atoms a window in the dining-room whore the blinds had just been opened to admit the light. The family had collected in the front hall, and Kate was the first to rush in to see what had happened.
"Good heavens!" said she, "if the day o' judgment's come won't we have a merry time kickin' all this glass about, and peltin' each other with stones 'fore we take our leave? A merry dance we'll have, and go up in the clouds."
The storm abated, and Walter was obliged to go to the glazier's as soon as it was over. He did not return until tea-time when he brought an invitation for them all to spend the evening out, about three miles distant.
He was very much surprised and disappointed when Rosalind resolutely refused to go. She generally acceded to his wishes in such things, and he was almost impatient with her for so wilfully persisting in denying herself the pleasure a ride must afford when every thing was so bright and smiling, as if all earth's sorrows, like the summer's noontide heat, must vanish before the invigorating breezes and inspiring emotions of such an evening.
Tears came into her eyes as Walter said, "Well, Rosa, I hope you will have a good time here all alone."
Of course she could not reproach him for it, but
