INGATH'S VOOER. 351 



•with Mr. Nemo in the garden talking of flowers and 

 trees. 



As they sauntered round and round the tiny beds 

 Mr. Nemo plucked here a blossom, there a leaf, until 

 a very pretty bouquet had been collected in his 

 fingers. Then he spoke, smiling — and I beg you to 

 notice that his smile was a particularly winsome 

 one at all times. Women's smiles are said to do a 

 great deal of damage, but I think that a man's smile, 

 though rarer, is far more potent. Mr. Nemo said, 

 smiling — 



" Will you let me give you some of your own 

 flowers ? " 



Had he been reading her thoughts ? Miss Ingath 

 blushed, looking quite youthful at the same time, and 

 remembering her stealthy visit to the garden on the 

 evening of his arrival. She took the flowers, and 

 down in her heart she felt the influence of the man's 

 attractive smile, but she said, sighing — 



" I thank you. The flowers are a gift ; the garden 

 is not mine now." 



" Most certainly yours while you remain at Orgert," 

 was Mr. Nemo's polite reply : " and," he added, " I 

 wish you would give me some in return." 



Miss Ingath hastily gathered the choicest of her 

 poor little collection and put them in his hand. 



"You are fond of heaths and orchids and sweet 

 homely Scotch roses, I see," he said, musingly; and 

 she answered — 



" They are my favourites." 



