AND — BROKEN BONES. 153 



likes me — to the otlicr, ''he loves me." For the wo- 

 man's perception is ever the first, and she jumps 

 quickest to the ultimate conclusion. 



Neither said, this time, ''I am not sorry papa is 

 not coming," but her eyes spoke it very audibly to 

 him, and his replied no less palpably to her that she 

 was something more than " a very charming girl." 



He saw her on a nearer view, 



A spirit yet a woman too ; 



Her household motions light and free, 



And steps of virgin liberty ; 



A countenance in which did meet 



Sweet records, promises as sweet ; 



A creature not too bright and good, 



For human nature's daily food 



For transient sorrows, simple wiles, 



For praise, blame, kisses, tears, and smiles ; 



and then both smiled as they smiled last night, only, 

 as the Virginia nigger said, more so. 



"We are friends," he whispered. 



"When I do things, I never do them by halves,*' 

 and she cast down her eyes. 



" And you will hear me now ?" 



" I'd rather not, but if you wish it — " 



"I'd rather." 



"Then I will." 



And did he not vault to the back of Thunderbolt, 

 merely gathering the reins in his right, scarcely 

 poised on the thin mane and high withers, in a fashion 

 that astonished that steadiest and most sober-minded 

 of veteran hunters, to the very extremity of horse ca- 

 pacity to be astonished. A fact clearly proved by the 

 execution of a curious caracole by that serious qua- 

 druped, the first probably since the days of his foal- 

 caperings by his mother's side. 



The whole made Mary laugh, a merry, silver laugh 

 which sealed the treaty — made the West-Riding York 



