"
"Miss Bradley has great taste," remarked Katherine.
"Wonderful--astonishing; she has made all this fernery since I was here
last."
Then there was a long pause, and a few more sentences expressive of
admiration were exchanged, and somehow Katherine began to feel that her
companion was rather bored and preoccupied, so she turned her steps
towards the house, intending to release him.
At the further side of the fernery, in a pretty path between green
banks, they suddenly met Errington face to face.
"Miss Bradley wants you, Urquhart," he said, as soon as they had
exchanged salutations. "You may leave Miss Liddell in my charge, if she
will permit." Major Urquhart bowed himself off, and Errington continued,
"You would not suspect that was a very distinguished officer."
"I don't know; he seems very silent and inanimate."
"Well, I assure you he is a very fine fellow, and did great deeds in
the Mutiny. But come, the lawn is looking quite picturesque in the
sunshine, with the groups of people scattered about. It would be perfect
were it sleeping in the tranquil silence of a restful Sabbath day."
"Are you not something of a hermit in your tastes?" asked Katherine,
looking up at him with one of her sunny smiles.
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