 »whether I
have the honor of speaking to Miss Wentworth?«
    »My name is Gertrude Wentworth,« murmured the young woman.
    »Then - then - I have the honor - the pleasure - of being your cousin.«
    The young man had so much the character of an apparition that this
announcement seemed to complete his unreality. »What cousin? Who are you?« said
Gertrude.
    He stepped back a few paces and looked up at the house; then glanced round
him at the garden and the distant view. After this he burst out laughing. »I see
it must seem to you very strange,« he said. There was, after all, something
substantial in his laughter. Gertrude looked at him from head to foot. Yes, he
was remarkably handsome; but his smile was almost a grimace. »It is very still,«
he went on, coming nearer again. And as she only looked at him, for reply, he
added, »Are you all alone?«
    »Every one has gone to church,« said Gertrude.
    »I was afraid of that!« the young man exclaimed. »But I hope you are not
afraid of me.«
    »You ought to tell me who you are,« Gertrude answered.
    »I am afraid of you!« said the young man. »I had a different plan. I
expected the servant would take in my card, and that you would put your heads
together, before admitting me, and make out my identity.«
    Gertrude had been wondering with a quick intensity which brought its
results; and the result seemed an answer - a wondrous, delightful answer - to
her vague wish that something would befall her. »I know - I know,« she said.
»You come from Europe.«
    »We came two days ago. You have heard of us, then - you believe in us?«
    »We have known, vaguely,« said Gertrude, »that we had relations in France.«
    »And have you ever wanted to see us?« asked the young man.
    Gertrude was silent a moment. »I have wanted to see you.«
    »I am glad, then, it is you I have found. We wanted to see you, so we came.«
    »On purpose?« asked Gertrude.
    The young man looked round him, smiling still. »Well, yes; on purpose. Does
that sound as if we should bore you?« he added. »I don't think we shall - I
really don
