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118 BLACK SHEEP.now. Every day her eyes had rested on the ruggedlog,and every-day she hacl turned them awaywith a sigh. To-day it was there no longer, andits absence was a relief. She reined Sir Lancelotup for amoment, ancl looked at the vacant space-The earth lay bare and brown where the log hadbeen; there yvas no grass there." It won't be hidden until the spring," shethought, impatiently^. "I wish — IwishIcouldforget the place in yvhichIsaw him first!IwishIcould forget thatIever had seenhim!"Then she turned her head ayvay yvith an effortand a sigh, ancl rode on.Clare was going over from the Sycamores toPoynings. She had occasion to see the housekeeper,started early, ancl, as usual, unattended,save by Cæsar, who bounded along now by theside of Sh- Lancelot, anon a considerable yvayr inadvance, doing the distance twice over, after thefashion of dogs, and evidently compassionating theleisurely pace to whichhis equine friend and comradeyvas condemned.The months yvhich had elapsed since her inauspiciousmeeting among the beeches with Paul