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44 _WILD MARGARET.
strain of his musings; and yet the voice was blithe and
juyous enough, too. -
Lord Blair leaned over the’stone rail of the balustrade
and listened. . . ;
A spell fell upon the wild young man, and for a few min-’
utes a strange feeling—was it of remorse for his wasted
life?—possessed him. Then there rose the desire to see the
singer, and as such desires were far stronger in Lord Blair's
breast than remorse, he moved quickly along the terraco.
in the direction of the voice.
It did not occur to him that it might be Margaret Hale,
and he experienced a sudden thrill of gratification as he
saw the dove-colored dress shining, a soft patch of light
against the shrubbery of the small garden. ,
At the same moment Margaret saw his shadow cast
upon the smooth lawn, and the song died on her lips.
He stopped short, and stood on top of the steps leading
to the little garden, looking down at her.
‘* May I come?” he said quietly.
Margaret inclined her head gravely and rose. It was
quite unnecessary to tell the Viscount Leyton that he was
at liberty to step into a part of the garden that would be-
long to him some day. ; ;
‘*T’m awfully unlucky, Miss Hale,’’ he said, flinging his
cigar away and coming up to the seat where she had been
sitting. ‘* This is the second time to-day I have disturbed
you; and yesterday—oh, yesterday won’t bear thinking of!
You were singing, weren’t you?’
‘*'Yes, my lord,” said Margaret gravely, for her grand-
mother’s words had suddenly occurred to her,. and sho
moved away.
*“* Are you going?’ he said. ‘‘ Now, I have driven you
away! Please, don’t go, I'll take myself off at once.”
‘*T was going, my lord,” said Margaret.
“Oh, come,” he retorted pleadingly; ‘it’s almost a*
wicked to tell stories as it is to fight; and you know you
were sitting here comfortably enough until I intruded
upon you.”
. His voice, his manner were irresistible, and produced a
smile on Margaret’s face.
‘““It.is getting late,” she said, ‘‘and Mrs. Hale may
‘
want me.”
‘I don’t think she will. It isn’t late—’ he looked at
his watch—‘‘I can’t see. Your eyes are better than mine,
Pll be bound. I've spoilt them sitting up studying at
night. Will you look? But upon this condition,” he
added, covering the face of the watch with his hand,
“that if it isn’t ten o’clock, you will stay a littie while
longer; of course I’ll go—if you want me to!”
ee We nine tanneries aE: Se ent! Ge “abet iahcnarath amy preven nome coo woke neo oes ae arene ne tnt amity ee
vap-wivermwend? prDrs womte mrpetea. ne. auto tahoe arabeants Beant. teumamusreae we atone vee os
penne ie anne