Chapter 41

IT was on a green March evening that Gillian set out for her tea at the ‘Mermaid’s Rest.’ Her father had started early in the morning. Mrs. Makepeace was doing a day’s washing at her own cottage; Robert had gone to fetch the cows in. Away went Gillian, with a posy of golden hazel catkins in her frock, and an anticipatory blush in her cheeks. Mr. Elmer did say such things! He was much more amusing than Robert. Of course Robert was a necessity, like bread; one could not contemplate the farm without Robert. But bread,…