An Engagement
By Ella D'Arcy
I
When Owen suddenly made up his mind again to tempt Fortune, and invest the remnants of his capital in the purchase of Carrel's house and practice at Jacques-le-Port, he brought with him to the Island a letter of introduction to Mrs. Le Messurier, of Mon Désir.
But with the business of settling down upon his hands—and another distraction also—nearly six weeks went by before he remembered to call. Then, having inquired his way, he walked up there one mild, blue afternoon.
He found a spruce semi-detached villa, standing back from the road, with a finely sanded path running from the gate, right and left, up to the hall door. From the centre of the large oval flower-bed which the path thus enclosed, rose a tall and flourishing monkey-tree, with the comically ugly appearance to which Owen's eyes had grown familiarised since his coming to the Island. In front of nearly every villa is planted an auraucania tree.
The house was of two storeys, painted white, and had green wooden shutters turned back against the walls. Dazzingly clean and very stiff lace curtains hung before the windows. Owen wasfavourably
