They were walking towards the house. Pointing to a narrow path leading towards the seashore, she said:

"That path goes to your boat-house, I suppose."

"Yes. I have a new boat; would you like to see it?"

"Is it far? You see it is getting late."

"We can come back in ten minutes."

"Truly? No longer than ten minutes?"

"Not a second longer unless you wish it."

"Come," said she, turning quickly into the little path, and he followed her. She did not care a straw to see the boat, but she wanted to give him time to get back the color to his face. She walked so fast down the hill; she almost ran. She looked back; he was following close. She began to laugh and started to run. He ran after her, and they did not stop until they got to the beach.

"How long is it since we started?" she asked. He looked at his watch.

"Not quite two minutes," he answered.

"I beg your pardon for running, obliging you to run, but I felt like it when I saw the blue water. It reminded me of home, of San Diego."

"No apology is needed. If it gave you pleasure to run, I am glad you did so."

"One look only, and then we must go back. Perhaps we had better return; I hear horses coming," she said, and at the same time Mr. Selden and his youngest sister came down by the boat-house at a gallop. His face flushed and became pale, but he lifted his hat as he passed. Gunther did the same, in answer to Miss Selden's salutation.

"Let us return. More riders might be passing," said Mercedes, and began to walk back.

"What! without seeing the boat?"

"It will be dark inside the house. I'll come some other time, earlier."

"Do you promise me that?"

"Certainly. You see, we can't run as fast up hill; it will take more than two minutes to return."

Again the galloping of horses was heard, and Selden, with his sister, passed on their way back just as Mercedes and Gunther reached the bank at the edge of the lawn and sat down to rest.

Selden's sister had noticed how he flushed and how livid he became a minute after, and faithfully reported the fact to her vigilant mamma as soon as she got home. Arthur would be watched now. His mamma knew that he was a millionaire and considered "a catch."

The Seldens had been abroad many years, the greater time in England, and had acquired some English habits, one of which was to dine late. That evening Arthur did not come down to dinner until half-past eight o'clock. He was afraid he would be questioned regarding the young lady with Robert Gunther. He felt too angry with his friend to hear his name spoken. But it was unavoidable. As soon as he took his seat at the table his mother asked:

"Who was the lady with Robert on the beach?"

"When?"

"This evening as we rode by his boat-house," explained his sister.

"Were they coming out of the boat-house?" asked the elder sister.

Arthur's lips became white again.

"Don't be alarmed. They did not go into the boat-house," said he, sneeringly.

"I? I alarmed? It seems to me you are the one alarmed. I might say frightened," she replied, reddening like a peony, trembling with anger, as she well understood her brother meant to allude to her well known fondness for Bob.

"Who is the lady, any way? I ask," reiterated Mrs. Selden.

"She is George Mechlin's sister-in-law," Arthur replied.

"Ah! That is the beauty I hear half a dozen fellows are raving about,"

said Miss Selden, to pique her brother.

"Is she so very pretty, Arthur?" asked the younger sister.

"I never saw any woman so beautiful in all my life," he answered, with dogged resolution as if about to pull the string of his shower bath.

The mother and daughters exchanged looks. They understood it all now.

Poor Arthur, he, too, was raving.

"By-the-by, I met Mechlin in the street to-day, and he asked if any one was sick in our family," observed Mr. Selden, senior.

"I understand. We will call to-morrow," Mrs. Selden said, sententiously.

"We will see the beauties."

And they did. When they were in their carriage riding home, Mrs. Selden said:

"I am sorry for Arthur if he is in love with that girl. I fear he will never get over it."

"So much the better if he marries her," said the younger sister.

"Yes, but if he does not, he'll never have any heart left."

"Do you suppose she would refuse him?" said the elder sister, haughtily.

"I don't know; I must have a talk with Arthur."

She had a talk with Arthur, and when he saw evasion would be useless, he told her all about his love and why he believed it hopeless, judging by what he heard George say.

"But if she is not positively engaged to that Darrell, why should you fear him more than you fear Gunther?"

"Because I believe she loves him."

"Perhaps. But we are not sure of it. Moreover, he is far off in California, and you are here."

Arthur shook his head despondingly, but, nevertheless, he was pleased to hear his mother say that they must entertain those two Californians, and Mrs. Mechlin would think it was all intended as a compliment to herself.

The Gunthers being more intimate with the Mechlins, should not be outdone by the Seldens in courtesy to these two ladies (at least such was the opinion expressed by Robert to his mother), and thus a day hardly passed without some entertainment for their amusement.

Arthur closed his eyes to the future and let himself float down this stream of sweet pleasures, knowing that they were but a dream, and yet for that reason more determined to drink the last drop of that nectar so intoxicating, and enjoy being near her, within the sound of her voice, within the magic circle of her personality. The thought that he had seen her with Gunther rambling on the beach had been at first very bitter and disconcerting, but when he had learned that she had intended going to see the boat, but changed her mind, he consoled himself, and more easily yet, when he observed that Gunther and other admirers made no more progress as suitors than he did himself.