He looked up and arrested her gaze fixed upon his face in wonder and perplexity. He smiled.
"On what weighty subject are you musing so deeply, Mrs. Leslie?" he inquired.
"If you will come and walk with me, I will tell you," she replied, lightly.
"Nothing would give me more pleasure," he answered gallantly.
[CHAPTER XXX.]
They went down the wide balcony steps together, leaving the two girls alone. Mrs. Leslie chose a favorite walk along the river bank, and by chance they sat down on the same pretty garden seat where Irene had rested that morning while she gave her promise to be Julius Revington's wife.
Mr. Stuart looked at his friend with a smile on his dark, handsome face.
"Now will you give me the benefit of your thoughts?" he said.
"If you will promise not to laugh—not to call me fanciful," she answered.