"
"I might be in the way."
"That is not very likely. Will you ride to Hammond Church to-morrow at
about ten, and finish your sketch of the tower? I will bring Miss
Clifford there, and introduce you to each other."
This was settled, and Mary was apparently quite intent on her sketch when
Walter and Julia rode up, and Walter said:
"That is my cousin, Mary Bartley. May I introduce her to you?"
"Of course. What a sweet face!"
So the ladies were introduced, and Julia praised Mary's sketch, and Mary
asked leave to add her to it, hanging, with pensive figure, over a
tombstone. Julia took an admirable pose, and Mary, with her quick and
facile fingers, had her on the paper in no time. Walter asked her, in a
whisper, what she thought of her model.
"I like her," said Mary. "She is rather pretty."
"Rather pretty! Why, she is an acknowledged beauty."
"A beauty? The idea! Long black thing!"
Then they rode all together to the farm. There Mary was all innocent
hospitality, and the obnoxious Julia kissed her at parting, and begged
her to come and see her at the Hall.
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