THE VILLAGE GIRL. 173 



Mr. Lee who now occupies the house, that I shall be home in 

 a month, and that will give him time to remove his family." 



" And do you really think of living there quite alone, Kate ?" 



The poor girl's tears fell like rain as she leaned her head 

 upon the table : " I feel alone in the world, cousin Harry ; 

 there is no one to love me, no one to understand me. I know 

 I am a wild, ignorant creature ; but I have warm affections 

 and I might be happy if people would let me ; so I will go 

 back and try if I cannot forget every thing and every body." 



" Not every body, dear Kate — do not strive to forget every 

 body ; for when you go I must be your companion, sweet." 



" You, Harry !" 



" Aye, even I, dear Kate ; look up and I will show you the 

 scene of my long-cherished dream of happiness." 



Kate did look up, and upon the easel before her, rested a 

 picture of her own sweet cottage, with its spreading elms, and 

 the silver brook winding round the foot of the hill. 



o 



" Look again, cousin, and see the object of my long-silent 



love." 



The girl's eye-lids trembled, but she raised them not, for the 

 weight of consciousness was upon them. 



