"Quite," he said; "perfectly well."

"And how did you come? I mean when--have you been staying near?"

"I came by this morning's train," he said, "and I walked over; my luggage follows by the carrier. I enjoyed the walk."

"You must be quite strong again," she said, with a quiet little gladness. "Mamma--and d.i.c.k--will be so glad to see you!"

"They haven't forgotten me?" he asked insanely.

She laughed again.

"They have talked of very little else but you, since you have been gone, and d.i.c.k is like a boy who has lost a schoolfellow."

She said it so frankly that Drake's heart sank.

"Well--I've thought--I've missed you--d.i.c.k," he said, stumbling over the sentence. "Shorne Mills is, as you said, not the kind of place one forgets in a hurry."

"Did I say that?" she asked. "I don't remember it."

"Ah! but I do," he said. "I remember----"

"Hadn't we better walk on?" she said. "You must be tired, and will be glad of some tea--or something."

He seemed to notice for the first time that they had been standing, and they walked on.

Her heart was still beating fast--beating with a new and strange happiness glowing through her. Only a few minutes ago she had felt so weary and wretched; the familiar scene, which she loved so dearly, had seemed flat and dreary and full of melancholy, and now--oh! how lovely it was! how good it was to look upon!

Why had everything changed so suddenly? Why was every pulse dancing to the subtle music with which the air seemed full?

The question came to her with a kind of dread and fear; and her eyes, which shone like stars, grew momentarily troubled and puzzled.

He scarcely dared look at her. The longing to touch her, to take her in his arms--that longing of pa.s.sionate love which he had never felt before--rose imperiously in his heart; but something restrained him. She was so young, so innocent and girlish that a kind of awe fell upon him.

When, as she walked beside him, the sleeve of her jacket came in contact with his arm, a thrill ran through him, and he caught his breath.

But he would hold himself in check; not at this moment, when she was startled by his sudden appearance, would he tell her. It was more than likely that he would frighten her, and that she would fly from him.

"And is there any news?" he asked.

She looked up as if she had come from a reverie.

"News! There is never any news at Shorne Mills!" she said, smiling brightly. "Nothing ever happens. d.i.c.k has shot some rabbits--and there was a good catch of mackerel yesterday, and--that's all."

Her eyes shone up at him, and he looked into their depths. "I wish I'd been here," he said. "But perhaps they'll have another big catch."

"Are you going to stay?"

The question sprang from her lips almost before she knew it, and she bit them a moment after the words were spoken; for it seemed to her that he must have noticed the eagerness, the anxiety in the query; but Drake only thought that she had asked with some surprise.

"A--a little while," he replied.

"Mamma and d.i.c.k will be very pleased," she said, in as matter-of-fact a tone as she could.

"I wired to Mrs. Brownie, asking her if she could put me up--old Brownie lets some rooms, he told me----"

Her face fell for a moment.

"You are not coming to us--to The Cottage?" she said cheerily.

"No; I couldn't trespa.s.s upon Mrs. Lorton's hospitality," he replied.

"I hope you will be comfortable----" She hesitated. "Mrs. Brownie's cottage is very small and----"

"Oh, I'm used to roughing it," he cut in; "and perhaps, when I find it too small, you will let me come up and see you----"

"In our palatial mansion--for a change."

She was bright again, and her eyes were sparkling. After all, though he would not be under the same roof, he would be near--would be in Shorne Mills.

"I think I'll go down to Mrs. Brownie's and see if it is all right, and then come up for a cup of tea, if I may," he said, as they neared The Cottage.

He opened the gate for her; she gave him a little nod, her sweet face radiant with the new-born happiness which suffused her whole being, and ran in.

"Mamma--guess who has come!" she exclaimed breathlessly, as she entered the sitting room where Mrs. Lorton was reclining on the sofa with the _Fashion Gazette_ and a bottle of eau de Cologne beside her. "d.i.c.k, I will give you three guesses--with a box of cigarettes as a prize," as d.i.c.k sauntered in with the gun under his arm.

"My dear Eleanor, why this excitement?" asked Mrs. Lorton rebukingly.

"Your face is flushed, and your hat is on one side----"

"You'll have to give up drinking in the daytime, Nell," remarked d.i.c.k.

"No, mamma, the gun will not go off, because it is not loaded. I wish it would, because I'm stone-broke and haven't any more cartridges. If I had a sister worthy of the name, she would advance me a small sum out of her pocket money."

"Guess, guess!" broke in Nell impatiently.

d.i.c.k smiled contemptuously.

"Some conceited clown to lecture in the schoolroom?" he said. "We know you of old, my dear Nell. Is there to be any tea this afternoon?"

"Clown!" retorted Nell scornfully. "Really, I've a good mind not to tell you until he--he comes himself."

"He--who? I must ask you to restrain your excitement, Eleanor. My nerves are in a very sad condition to-day, and I cannot--I really cannot bear any mental strain."

"It's Mr. Drake Vernon," said Nell, more soberly.

d.i.c.k uttered the yell of a rejoicing red Indian; and Mrs. Lorton slid into an upright position with incredible rapidity.

"Mr. Vernon! Go on, you're joking, Nell!" cried d.i.c.k; "and yet you look pleased enough for it to be true! Mr. Vernon! Hurrah! Sorry, mamma, but my feelings, which usually are under perfect control----"

"Is my hair tidy, Eleanor? Take this eau de Cologne away. Where is he?

Did you think to bring a tea cake for tea? No, of course not; you think of nothing, nothing! I sometimes wonder why you have not imitated some of the Wolfer tact and readiness."