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re she will not say or do something extravagant or unusual： she seems to suspect sobriety and good taste of being in league with impiety。 Here I succeed in bridling her a little； but encounter a female enthusiast in her own house？ _merci！_ After all； there must be something good in her； since she is your friend； and you are hers。 But I have something more serious to say before you go there： it is about her brother。 He is a flirt： in fact； a notorious one； more than one lady tells me。〃
Julia was silent； but began to be very uneasy； they were sitting and talking after sunset； yet without candles。 She profited for once by that prodigious gap in the intelligence of 〃the sex。〃
〃I hear he pays you compliments； and I have seen a disposition to single you out。 Now； my love； you have the good sense to know that； whatever a young gentleman of that age says to you； he says to many other ladies； but your experience is not equal to your sense； so profit by mine。 A girl of your age must never be talked of with a person of the other sex： it is fatal； fatal！ but if you permit yourself to be singled out； you will be talked of； and distress those who love you。 It is easy to avoid injudicious duets in society； oblige me by doing so to…night。〃 To show how much she was in earnest； Mrs。 Dodd hinted that； were her admonition neglected； she should regret for once having kept clear of an enthusiast。
Julia had no alternative； she assented in a faint voice。 After a pause she faltered out； 〃And suppose he should esteem me seriously？〃
Mrs。 Dodd replied quickly； 〃Then that would be much worse。 But；〃 said she； 〃I have no apprehensions on that score； you are a child； and he is a precocious boy； and rather a flirt。 But forewarned is forearmed。 So now run away and dress； sweet one： my lecture is quite ended。〃
The sensitive girl went up to her room with a heavy heart。 All the fears she had lulled of late revived。 She saw plainly now that Mrs。 Dodd only accepted Alfred as a pleasant acquaintance： as a son…in…law he was out of the question。 〃Oh； what will she say when she knows all？〃 thought Julia。
Next day； sitting near the window； she saw him coming up the road。 After the first movement of pleasure at the bare sight of him； she was sorry he had come。 Mamma's suspicions awake at last； and here he was again； the third call in one fortnight！ She dared not risk an interview with him； ardent and unguarded； under that penetrating eye； which she felt would now be on the watch。 She rose hurriedly； said as carelessly as she could； 〃I am going to the school；〃 and tying her bonnet on all in a flurry； whipped out at the back…door with her shawl in her hand just as Sarah opened the front door to Alfred。 She then shuffled on her shawl； and whisked through the little shrubbery into the open field； and reached a path that led to the school； and so gratified was she at her dexterity in evading her favourite； that she hung her head； and went murmuring； 〃Cruel； cruel； cruel！〃
Alfred entered the drawing…room gaily； with a good…sized card and a prepared speech。 His was not the visit of a friend； but a functionary； the treasurer of the cricket…ground come to book two of his eighteen to play against the All…England Eleven next month。 〃As for you； my worthy sir （turning to Edward）； I shall just put you down without ceremony。 But I must ask leave to book Captain Dodd。 Mrs。 Dodd； I come at the universal desire of the club； they say it is sure to be a dull match without Captain Dodd。 Besides； he is a capital player。〃
〃Mamma； don't you be caught by his chaff；〃 said Edward； quietly。 〃Papa is no player at all。 Anything more unlike cricket than his way of making runs！〃
〃But he makes them； old fellow； now you and I； at Lord's the other day； played in first…rate form； left shoulder well up； and achievedwith neatness； precision； dexterity； and despatchthe British duck's…egg。
_〃Misericorde！_ What is that？〃 inquired Mrs。 Dodd。
Why； a round O；〃 said the other Oxonian； coming to his friend's aid。
〃And what is that； pray？〃
Alfred told her 〃the round O；〃 which had yielded to 〃the duck's egg；〃 and was becoming obsolete； meant the cypher set by the scorer against a player's name who is out without making a run。
〃I see；〃 sighed Mrs。 Dodd。 〃The jargon of the day penetrates to your very sports and games。 And why British？〃
〃Oh； 'British' is redundant： thrown in by the universities。〃
〃But what does it mean？〃
〃It means nothing。 That is the beauty of it。 British is inserted in imitation of our idols； the Greeks； they adored redundancy。〃
In short； poor Alfred； though not an M。 P。； was talking to put off time； till Julia should come in： so he now favoured Mrs。 Dodd； of all people； with a flowery description of her husband's play； which I； who have not his motive for volubility； suppress。 However； he wound up with the captains 〃moral influence。〃 〃Last match；〃 said he； 〃Barkington did not do itself justice。 Several； that could have made a stand； were frightened out； rather than bowled； by the London professionals。 Then Captain Dodd went in； and treated those artists with the same good…humoured contempt he would a parish bowler； and； in particular； sent Mynne's over…tossed balls flying over his head for five； or to square leg for four； and； on his retiring with twenty…five； scored in eight minutes； the remaining Barkingtonians were less funky； and made some fair scores。〃
Mrs。 Dodd smiled a little ironically at this tirade； but said she thought she might venture to promise Mr。 Dodd's co…operation； should he reach home in time。 Then； to get rid of Alfred before Julia's return； the amiable worldling turned to Edward。 〃Your sister will not be back； so you may as well ring the bell for luncheon at once。 Perhaps Mr。 Hardie will join us。〃
Alfred declined； and took his leave with far less alacrity than he had entered； Edward went down…stairs with him。
〃Miss Dodd gone on a visit？〃 asked Alfred； affecting carelessness。
〃Only to the school。 By…the…bye； I will go and fetch her。〃
〃No； don't do that； call on my sister instead； and then you will pull me out of a scrape。 I promised to bring her here； but her saintship was so long adorning 'the poor perishable body；' that I came alone。〃
〃I don't understand you；〃 said Edward。 〃I am not the attraction here； it is Julia。〃
〃How do you know that？ When a young lady interests herself in an undergraduate's soul； it is a pretty sure sign she likes the looks of him。 But perhaps you don't want to be converted； if so； keep clear of _her。_ 'Bar the fell dragon's blighting way； but shun that lovely snare。'〃
〃On the contrary；〃 said Edward calmly； 〃 I only wish she could make me as good as she is； or half as good。〃
〃Give her the chance； old fellow； and then it won't be your fault if she makes a mess of it。 Call at two； and Jenny will receive you very kindly； and will show you you are in the 'gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity。' Now； won't that be nice？〃
〃I will go；〃 said Edward gravely。
They parted。 Where Alfred went the reader can perhaps guess； Edward to luncheon。
〃Mamma；〃 said he； with that tranquillity which sat so well on him； 〃don't you think Alfred Hardie is spoony upon our Julia？〃
Mrs。 Dodd suppressed a start； and （perhaps to gain time before replying sincerely） said she had not the honour of knowing what 〃spoony〃 meant。
〃Why； sighs for her； and dies for her； and fancies she is prettier than Miss Hardie。 He must be over head and ears to think that。〃
〃Fie； child！ 〃 was the answer。 〃If I thought so； I should withdraw from their acquaintance。 Excuse me； I must put on my bonnet at once； not to lose this fine afternoon。〃
Edward did not relish her remark： it menaced more Spoons than one。 However； he was not the man to be cast down at a word： he lighted a cigar； and strolled towards Hardie's house。 Mr。 Hardie； senior； had left three days ago on a visit to London； Miss Hardie received him； he passed the afternoon in calm complacency； listening reverently to her admonitions； and looking her softly out of countenance； and into earthly affections； with his lion eyes。
Meantime his remark； so far from really seeming foolish to Mrs。 Dodd； was the true reason for her leaving him so abruptly 〃Even this dear slow Thing sees it；〃 thought she。 She must talk to Julia more seriously； and would go to the school at once。 She went up…stairs； and put on her bonnet and shawl before the glass； then moulded on her gloves； and came down equipped。 On the stairs was a large window； looking upon the open field； she naturally cast her eyes through it in the direction she was going； and what did she see but a young lady and gentleman coming slowly down the path towards the villa。 Mrs。 Dodd bit her lip with vexation； and looked keenly at them； to divine on what terms they were。 And the more she looked the more uneasy she grew。
The head； the hand； the whole body of a sensitive young woman walking beside him she loves； betray her heart to experienced eyes watching unseen； and especially to female eyes。 And why did Julia move so slowly； especially after that warning ？ Why was her head averted from that encroaching boy； and herself so near him？ Why not keep her distance； and look him full in the face？ Mrs。 Dodd's first impu