rong face and bony frame looked as if he could work as well as play.

"Do you take sugar?"

"No, thank you; neither sugar nor cream."

"Neither? That is very self-denying!"

"Not self-denying! Were I foolish enough to do what I did not like, I
should take the sugar and cream. They do not happen to please my
palate."

"It is well we do not all like the same things."

"It is indeed!" He held his cup untasted for a moment, looking
thoughtfully into the fire. "Tea is the best drink you can have in
difficult, fatiguing journeys. Even the gold-diggers of Australia know
that. They drink hard enough when they are on the spree, but when at
work in earnest they stick to the teapot," he said, turning his eyes
full upon her with a cool, critical gaze, which half amused, half
irritated her. It was curious to sit there talking easily with a total
stranger. Perhaps she ought to have left him to himself, but it was not
much matter. Looking toward the window to avoid her companion's eyes,
she exclaimed:

"It is raining quite fast! I am glad I brought the children home before
this shower."

"An avant-courier of April. You were walking with Mrs. Ormonde's boys,
then?"

"Yes; I take them out every day."

"An uncommonly good-looking governess," thought De Burgh. "You have not
been here long, I think?" he said.

"About three weeks. The boys are quite used to me now, and enjoy their
walks, for I take them outside the grounds," said Katherine, feeling
sure that De Burgh must guess who she was.

"Indeed! You are a daring innovator. I suppose they were kept on the
premises till you came?"

"They were; and it is always tiresome to be kept within bounds."

"I quite agree with you. The sentiment is extremely natural, only young
ladies rarely confess it."

"Why?"

"Oh, you ought to know better than I do. You give me the idea of being a
plucky woman."

"You must be quick in gathering ideas," said Katherine, dryly.

"Yes; some subjects inspire me," he returned, handing in his cup.
"Another, please. I am a bit of a physiognomist. I think I could give a
rough sketch of your character." He stirred the fire to a brighter blaze
and added, "It is so deuced dark since that shower came on I can hardly
see you, but I will tell you my ideas, if you care to hear them."

"Yes, I should," she returned, laughing. "It will be curious to hear the
result of an instantaneous estimate. Why, five minutes ago you had never
seen me."

"Five minu