Hunting in the Golden Days. 93 



your love to me under the mistletoe, but I forgive you ; 

 doubtless your feelings overcame you in the excitement 

 of the moment, for if you have not openly avowed your 

 love to me, I have known it for years." 



Mr. Goodbery produces his bandana handkerchief 

 and vigorously mops his streaming forehead. Things 

 are coming to a pretty pass, he does not know what 

 course to pursue ; he thinks that under the circum- 

 stances, the best thing to do will be to allow the lady 

 to have her say, and trusts that someone will come 

 into the gallery and thus put an end to the unpleasant 

 interview. He furtively watches the door, but alas, 

 there are no signs of anyone approaching to intrude 

 upon this unsought-for privacy. 



" But," continues she, " I forgive you, but do not, I beg 

 you, again let the vulgar public gaze upon our happiness. 

 Oh, Goody, I may call you Goody, may I not r Let us 

 reserve such scenes for private life, for then, indeed, we 

 shall be better able to enjoy our felicity. I do not see 

 any reason that our engagement should be a long one, 

 for has not our acquaintance been a life-long courtship r " 



But Goodbery is still silent, he does not mean if he 

 can possibly avoid it in any way to acquiesce to this 

 terrible alliance that is being thrust upon him. He 

 makes another gallant effort to change the subject by 

 talking in a rambling way about a frightful accident 

 that befel him in the hunting field when he was thrown 

 from his horse headlong into a muddy stream where, had 

 it not been for the joint efforts of Mr. Oldwig and a 

 farmer, he would doubtless have succumbed. 



But Miss Janet is not to be turned from her purpose, 

 she has a determined expression on her countenance 

 which frightens Goodbery. 



" Oh, Goody," she continues, " let me hear you say that 



