John Hamilton and his daughter attended to the household duties, and the labor was equally divided. No stranger ever crossed the threshold of the little cottage door.
Sir Harold would watch the girl in wonderment, and listen with rapture to her sweet singing as she worked about the house.
Oh, how happy she was, though at times a great black cloud would rise before her, and she would clutch at her heart to still its agony!
When her work was done, her sweetest delight was to sit near to Sir Harold, and drink in eagerly every word that he uttered.
John Hamilton saw all this, and frowned, but he felt that he was helpless at present.
One day he spoke harshly to his daughter, and she listened half-ashamed.
“Theresa,” he said, “you must not seek the society of our guest so much, or I shall send him away.”
The girl started, and a swift blush leaped into her cheeks.
“Father!”
“Do you not understand that your conduct is unbecoming a lady?” he continued.