ONE day, Lady Lyndsey was seated at the window of their little apartment, which looked upon the sands, and Sir Algernon was reading by the fireside, when suddenly she exclaimed, "I am sure Mr Percy is thinking of our Antonia.” Sir Algernon smiled as he shut his book. "Thinking of our Antonia, which, being interpreted, means, I suppose, that he is in love with her? Ah, that love! always uppermost in a lady's mind." "Nay, but, Sir Algernon, come here and judge for yourself. You see they are just returning home from their morning's ramble. You see he will not allow her to walk up the rough beach alone; he makes her take his arm. Now they stop. Oh, she has dropped her handkerchief! I see it on the sands. I am certain he is persuading her to sit down whilst he returns for it. Now he is off! How alert he is grown! This time last year he could not have run so far even for a wager." "You forget," replied Sir Algernon, laughing, "that he still considers Antonia in the light of an invalid; he would, therefore, be wanting in the common duties of humanity if he did not assist her in climbing a rough ascent, or if he allowed her to run back a quarter of a mile for a pocket handkerchief. I confess that at present it appears to me, you, my lady, have too much penetration." "Ah, Sir Algernon," said his wife, laughing and shaking her head at him. "I shall make you confess in time that my penetration is not to be despised." The walkers now entered the apartment; Mr Percy laden with baskets of shells and sea-weed, which he and Antonia eagerly set about classing and arranging Lady Lyndsey, from time to time, casting a significant glance towards her husband, who still provokingly smiled incredulous, and continued his book, impenetrable to all the nods and winks and smiles she could not resist occasionally giving. In good truth, Sir Algernon was only trying her patience a little, for it could not escape his observa tion that Mr Percy was attached to his niece; but he also saw that the success of his suit so much depended on Antonia's not perceiving it, and continuing to treat and consider him as a friend, that, fearful of Lady Lyndsey's marring all, by her premature discoveries, he would not encourage her to disclose them, by appearing to agree with her. "If Antonia," thus Sir Algernon argued to himself, "ever felt more than a great interest in Mr Berenger, so natural under the circumstances, I believe it has now passed away from her mind. Mr Percy is a rational sensible man, and will make her very happy, though I can easily conceive Sidney Berenger's being in the eyes of a young lady of metal more attractive,' especially with the romantic adventures which marked their brief acquaintance." But if "love laughs at locksmiths," he likewise does at set forms and wise determinations; and Sir Algernon's wishes that Antonia should remain in ignorance of Mr Percy's sentiments, were frustrated, from an unlucky chance by the party most interested, Mr Percy himself, and thus it occurred: One fine morning, Antonia begged her uncle to fix his telescope, as the high tide might perchance |