"Your young ladies have left you alone," said he.
"Yes; they are occupied with more agreeable company."
"Then don't trouble youself to overtake them."
I slackened my pace; but next moment regretted having done so; my companion did not speak: and I had nothing in the world to say, and feared he might be in the same predicament. At length, however, he broke the pause by asking, with a certain quiet abruptness peculiar to himself if I liked flowers.
"Yes very much," I answered, "wild flowers especially."
"I like wild flowers," said he, "others I don't care about, because I have no particular associations connected with them—except one or two. What are are your favorite flowers'"
"Primroses, blue-bells, and heath-blossoms,"
"Not violets?"
"No, because, as you say, I have no particular associations connected with them; for there are no sweet violets among the hills and valleys round my home."
"It must be a great consolation to you, to have a home, Miss Grey," observed my com-
