genial influence smote Coristine’s heart, as the evidence of double disloyalty on the lady’s part, to her friend, Miss Du Plessis, and to him.  Tiring of her single-handed work, she turned to Mr. Bigglethorpe, saying:  “You know Mr. Lamb, do you not!” The fisherman answered:  “You were kind enough to introduce us last night, Miss Carmichael, but you will, I hope, pardon me for saying that I do not approve of Mr. Lamb.”  Then he turned away, and conversed with the Captain.  When the company rose, the only person who approached the civil servant was the colonel, who said:  “I pehsume, suh, aftah what my kind friend, Mr. Cohistine, has spoken so well, you will not annoy my niece with any moah remahks about her propehty.  It would please that lady and me, as her guahdian, if you will fohget Miss Du Plessis’ existence, suh, so fah as you are concehned.”  This was chilling, but chill did not hurt Mr. Lamb.  The little Carruthers, headed by Marjorie, were in front of the verandah when Miss Carmichael and he went out.  Marjorie had evidently been schooling them, for, at her word of command, they began to sing, to the tune of “Little Bo Peep,” the original words:—­

     Poor Orther Lom,
     He looks so glom.

Miss Carmichael seized her namesake and shook her.  “You naughty, wicked little girl, how dare you?  Who taught you these shameful words?” she asked, boiling with indignation.  Marjorie cried a little for vexation, but would not reveal the name of the author.  Some said it was the doctor, and others, that it was his daughter Fanny; but Miss Carmichael was sure that the lawyer, Marjorie’s great friend, Eugene, was the guilty party, that he ought to be ashamed of himself, and that the sooner he left Bridesdale the better.  Coristine was completely innocent of the awful crime, which lay in the skirts of Marjorie’s father, the Captain, as might have been suspected from the beauty of the couplet.  The consequence of the poetic surprise was the exclusive attachment of Miss Carmichael to the Crown Lands man, in a long walk in the garden, a confidential talk, and the present of a perfectly beautiful button-hole pinned in by her own hands.

CHAPTER XVII.

     The Picnic—­Treasure Trove—­A Substantial Ghost
     Captured—­Coristine’s Farewell—­Ride to Collingwood—­Bangs Secures
     Rawdon—­Off to Toronto—­Coristine Meets the Captain—­Grief at
     Bridesdale—­Marjorie and Mr. Biggles—­Miss Du Plessis Frightens Mr.
     Lamb—­The Minister’s Smoke—­Fishing Picnic.

After his Parthian shot, the Captain ordered Sylvanus to get out the gig, as he was going home.  Leaving Marjorie in the hands of her aunt Carmichael, he saluted his daughter, his niece, and his two sisters in law, and took their messages for Susan.  There was grief in the kitchen at the departure of Sylvanus, who expected to be on the rolling deep before the end of the week.  Mr. Pawkins and Constable Rigby had already taken