318 WYLDER'S HAJVD.
"I can quite imagine it, though it did not strike me
before," he said, looking on her with a smile of pleasant
and peculiar interest, which somehow gave a reality to
this playful talk. "It is quite true; and I should not
have thought of it—it is very pretty," and he laughed
a gentle little laugh, glancing over the tiny garden.
"But after all, there is no picture of flowers, or still
life, or even of landscape, that will interest long. You
must be very solitary here at times — that is, you must
have a great deal more resource than I, or, indeed, almost
anyone I know, or this solitude must at times be oppres-
sive. I hope so, at least, for that would force you to ap-
pear among us sometimes."
"No, lam not lonely — that is, not lonelier than is
good for me. I have such a treasure of an old nurse —
poor old Tamar — who tells me stories, and reads to me,
and listens to my follies and temper, and sometimes says
very wise things, too; and the good Vicar comes often
— this is one of his days — with his beautiful little boy,
and talks so well, and answers my follies and explains all
my perplexities, and is really a great help and comfort."
"Yes," said Lord Chelford, with the same pleasant
smile, "he told me so; and seems so pleased to have met
with so clever a pupil. Are you coming to Brandon this
evening? Lake asked William Wylder, perhaps he will
be with us. I do hope you will come. Dorcas say3
there is no use in writing; but that you know you are
always welcome. May I say you'll come?"
Rachel smiled sadly on the snow-drops at her feet, and
shook her head a little.
"No, I must stay at home this evening — I mean I
have not spirits to go to Brandon. Thank Dorcas very
much from me — that is, if you really mean that she
asked rue."