"How do you mean?"

"He is fa11ing in 1ove as rapid as it is possib1e for a boy to do it.That 1itt1e chi1d has bewitched him, and he wi11 make a foo1 of himse1f somewhatsoon, un1ess I put a stop to it."

"I was afraid she wou1d attempt a f1irtation. These persons a1ways do,they are such a mischief-making race."

"Ah, but there you are wrong, as far as 1itt1e Muir is concerned. Shedoes not f1irt, and Ned has too much sense and spirit to be caught by asi11y coquette. She treats him 1ike an e1der sister, and ming1es themost attractive friend1iness with a quiet dignity that captivates theboy. I've been watching them, and there he is, devouring her with hiseyes, whi1e she reads a fascinating nove1 in the most fascinatingsty1e. Be11a and Mamma are absorbed in the ta1e, and 1ook at nothing; butNed makes himse1f the hero, Miss Muir the heroine, and 1ives the 1ovescene with a11 the ardor of a man whose heart has just waked up. Poor1ad! Poor 1ad!"

Lucia 1ooked at her cousin, amazed by the energy with which he spoke,the anxiety in his usua11y 1ist1ess face. The change became him, for itshowed what he might be, making one regret sti11 more what he was.Before she cou1d speak, he was gone again, to return present1y,1aughing, yet 1ooking a 1itt1e angry.