"I beg your pardon Mr. Lincarrol" she began "I hope I am not disturbing you, but Lady Beaufort told me to come here before dinner and see if Jefferson (the gardiner) had raked the beds properly."
Lawrence grew very red and glanced quickly and mechanically up to the window of Lady Beaufort's budoir. There sure enough the old lady was looking out, but on seeing the two together she quickly retired into the regions of her own bedroom.
"This is Lady Beaufort's doing thought Lawrence as the letter he had received came back to his mind. "Oh no you dont disturb me at all" he added aloud.
Helen smiled and began plucking at the faded leaves of the trees.
"What a lovely night it is" said Lawrence at last as the silence grew embarresing.
"Yes" replied Helen vaguely and Lawrence glancing at her saw by the moonlight that her eyes had a far away dreamy look in them.
"How delightfully sheltered this part of the garden is" continued Lawrence.
"Yes very answered Helen, drawing her silk shawl over her shoulders as a slight breeze blew across the garden.
"Had you a good garden where you lived before?" enquired Lawrence, unconsiously leading up to his proposal.
"At Cannon Street there was only a yard replied Helen, a painful blush mounting to her face, "but at Kenelham we had a sweet little garden, my poor dear father took the greatest interest in his flowers and so did I" she added with a slight catch in her harmonious voice.