'  What  is  it,  my  dear  child,'  he  said  kindly ;  '  I'll  promise
to  behave  prettily ;  my  fierceness,  as  you  call  it,  is  tolerably  well
taken  out  of  me  by  this  time.'

'Well,  I  was  walking  in  the  Park,  you  know,'  resumed
Emily,  'and  just  as  I  got  to  Markum's  cottage,  I  perceived  a
tall,  aristocratic-looking  young  man  talking  to  Mrs  Markum ;
as  soon  as  she  caught  sight  of  me,  she  exclaimed,  "Here  is
Miss  Hazlehurst,  sir;  she  has  just  come  from  the  house,  and
can  tell  you  the  last  account  of  poor  mistress."  Whereupon,
the  gentleman  approached  me,  and  taking  off  his  hat,  said,  "  I
believe  I  have  the  pleasure  of  addressing  a  sister  of  Mrs  Cover-
dale  ?  "  I  bowed  assent,  and  he  continued,  "  My  name  is  Alfred


432  HARRY  COVERD ALE'S  COURTSHIP

Courtlaiid.  I  do  not  know  whether  Coverdale  has  told  you  " —
(here  he  stammered  and  blushed,  so  like  a  frightened  girl,  that
I  began  to  feel  quite  brave) — "that  is,  whether  you  are  aware,
that  it  was  in  my  service  he  met  with  his  accident,  and  that —
that,  in  fact,  I  cannot  but  feel  that  your  sister's  illness  has  been,
in  great  measure,  brought  on  by  my  folly ;  the  consequence  is,
that  ever  since  I  heard  of  her  attack  I  have  been  miserable.
