70
WYLJDER'S HAJVD.
"You forget that Lord Chelford passes this way some-
times, and shines upon them, too."
"No, he's a dull, earthly dog; and if he shines here,
it is only in reflected light."
"Margery, child, fetch me the scissors."
And a hobble-de-hoy of a girl, with round eyes, and a
long white apron, and bare arms, came down the little
walk, and—eyeing the peer with an awful curiosity —
presented the shears to the charming Atropos, who clipped
off the withered blossoms that had bloomed their hour,
and were to cumber the stalk no more.
"Now, you see what art may do; how passie this
creature was till I made her toilet, and how wonderfully
the poor old beauty looks now," and she glanced compla-
cently at the plant she had just trimmed.
"Well, it is young again and beautiful; but no — I
have no faith in the scissors; I still believe in the influ-
ence — from the tips of your fingers, your looks, and
tones. Flowers, like fairies, have their favorites, whom
they smile on and obey; and I think this is a haunted
glen — trees, flowers, all have an intelligence and a feel-
ing — and I am sure you see wonderful things, by moon-
light, from your window."
With a strange meaning echo, those words returned to
her afterwards— " I'm sure you see wonderful things, by
moonlight, from your window."
And as they chatted in this strain, Rachel paused on
a sudden, with upraised hand, listening pleasantly.
"I hear the pony-carriage; Dorcas is coming," she
said.
And the tinkle of tiny wheels, coming down the road,
was audible
"There's a pleasant sense of adventure, too, in the
midst of your seclusion. Sudden arrivals and passing pil-