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〃Was the MacNair a Conservative or a Grit？〃 asked Felicity。
〃It doesn't make any difference what he was；〃 said the Story Girl impatiently。 〃Even a Tory would be romantic a hundred years ago。 Well； Ursula couldn't see Kenneth very often； for Kenneth lived fifteen miles away and was often absent from home in his vessel。 On this particular day it was nearly three months since they had met。
〃The Sunday before； young Sandy MacNair had been in Carlyle church。 He had risen at dawn that morning； walked bare…footed for eight miles along the shore； carrying his shoes； hired a harbour fisherman to row him over the channel； and then walked eight miles more to the church at Carlyle； less； it is to be feared； from a zeal for holy things than that he might do an errand for his adored brother； Kenneth。 He carried a letter which he contrived to pass into Ursula's hand in the crowd as the people came out。 This letter asked Ursula to meet Kenneth in the beechwood the next afternoon； and so she stole away there when suspicious father and watchful stepmother thought she was spinning in the granary loft。〃
〃It was very wrong of her to deceive her parents；〃 said Felicity primly。
The Story Girl couldn't deny this； so she evaded the ethical side of the question skilfully。
〃I am not telling you what Ursula Townley ought to have done；〃 she said loftily。 〃I am only telling you what she DID do。 If you don't want to hear it you needn't listen； of course。 There wouldn't be many stories to tell if nobody ever did anything she shouldn't do。
〃Well； when Kenneth came； the meeting was just what might have been expected between two lovers who had taken their last kiss three months before。 So it was a good half…hour before Ursula said；
〃'Oh； Kenneth； I cannot stay longI shall be missed。 You said in your letter that you had something important to talk of。 What is it？'
〃'My news is this； Ursula。 Next Saturday morning my vessel； The Fair Lady； with her captain on board； sails at dawn from Charlottetown harbour； bound for Buenos Ayres。 At this season this means a safe and sure returnnext May。'
〃'Kenneth！' cried Ursula。 She turned pale and burst into tears。 'How can you think of leaving me？ Oh； you are cruel！'
〃'Why； no； sweetheart；' laughed Kenneth。 'The captain of The Fair Lady will take his bride with him。 We'll spend our honeymoon on the high seas； Ursula； and the cold Canadian winter under southern palms。'
〃'You want me to run away with you； Kenneth？' exclaimed Ursula。
〃'Indeed； dear girl； there's nothing else to do！'
〃'Oh； I cannot！' she protested。 'My father would'
〃'We'll not consult himuntil afterward。 Come； Ursula； you know there's no other way。 We've always known it must come to this。 YOUR father will never forgive me for MY father。 You won't fail me now。 Think of the long parting if you send me away alone on such a voyage。 Pluck up your courage； and we'll let Townleys and MacNairs whistle their mouldy feuds down the wind while we sail southward in The Fair Lady。 I have a plan。'
〃'Let me hear it；' said Ursula； beginning to get back her breath。
〃'There is to be a dance at The Springs Friday night。 Are you invited； Ursula？'
〃'Yes。'
〃'Good。 I am notbut I shall be therein the fir grove behind the house； with two horses。 When the dancing is at its height you'll steal out to meet me。 Then 'tis but a fifteen mile ride to Charlottetown； where a good minister； who is a friend of mine； will be ready to marry us。 By the time the dancers have tired their heels you and I will be on our vessel； able to snap our fingers at fate。'
〃'And what if I do not meet you in the fir grove？' said Ursula； a little impertinently。
〃'If you do not； I'll sail for South America the next morning； and many a long year will pass ere Kenneth MacNair comes home again。'
〃Perhaps Kenneth didn't mean that； but Ursula thought he did； and it decided her。 She agreed to run away with him。 Yes； of course that was wrong； too； Felicity。 She ought to have said； 'No； I shall be married respectably from home； and have a wedding and a silk dress and bridesmaids and lots of presents。' But she didn't。 She wasn't as prudent as Felicity King would have been。〃
〃She was a shameless hussy；〃 said Felicity； venting on the long… dead Ursula that anger she dare not visit on the Story Girl。
〃Oh； no； Felicity dear； she was just a lass of spirit。 I'd have done the same。 And when Friday night came she began to dress for the dance with a brave heart。 She was to go to The Springs with her uncle and aunt； who were coming on horseback that afternoon； and would then go on to The Springs in old Hugh's carriage； which was the only one in Carlyle then。 They were to leave in time to reach The Springs before nightfall； for the October nights were dark and the wooded roads rough for travelling。
〃When Ursula was ready she looked at herself in the glass with a good deal of satisfaction。 Yes； Felicity； she was a vain baggage； that same Ursula； but that kind didn't all die out a hundred years ago。 And she had good reason for being vain。 She wore the sea… green silk which had been brought out from England a year before and worn but onceat the Christmas ball at Government House。 A fine； stiff； rustling silk it was； and over it shone Ursula's crimson cheeks and gleaming eyes； and masses of nut brown hair。
〃As she turned from the glass she heard her father's voice below； loud and angry。 Growing very pale； she ran out into the hall。 Her father was already half way upstairs； his face red with fury。 In the hall below Ursula saw her step…mother； looking troubled and vexed。 At the door stood Malcolm Ramsay； a homely neighbour youth who had been courting Ursula in his clumsy way ever since she grew up。 Ursula had always hated him。
〃'Ursula！' shouted old Hugh； 'come here and tell this scoundrel he lies。 He says that you met Kenneth MacNair in the beechgrove last Tuesday。 Tell him he lies！ Tell him he lies！'
〃Ursula was no coward。 She looked scornfully at poor Ramsay。
〃'The creature is a spy and a tale…bearer；' she said； 'but in this he does not lie。 I DID meet Kenneth MacNair last Tuesday。'
〃'And you dare to tell me this to my face！' roared old Hugh。 'Back to your room； girl！ Back to your room and stay there！ Take off that finery。 You go to no more dances。 You shall stay in that room until I choose to let you out。 No； not a word！ I'll put you there if you don't go。 In with youay； and take your knitting with you。 Occupy yourself with that this evening instead of kicking your heels at The Springs！'
〃He snatched a roll of gray stocking from the hall table and flung it into Ursula's room。 Ursula knew she would have to follow it； or be picked up and carried in like a naughty child。 So she gave the miserable Ramsay a look that made him cringe； and swept into her room with her head in the air。 The next moment she heard the door locked behind her。 Her first proceeding was to have a cry of anger and shame and disappointment。 That did no good； and then she took to marching up and down her room。 It did not calm her to hear the rumble of the carriage out of the gate as her uncle and aunt departed。
〃'Oh； w