ely little scene, but it held a meaning that love had never held for
himself and Eve.

Eric untied Beulah's apron string, and carrying the apples in this
improvised bag, with his arm about her waist sustaining her, they came
down the walk.

"This is Beulah's pet tree. When she was sick she asked for apples and
apples and apples."

Beulah, sinking her little white teeth into a red one, nodded. "It is
perfectly wonderful," she said when she was able to speak, "how good
everything tastes, and I can't get enough."

Eric pinched her cheek. "Pretty good color, doctor. We'll have them
matching the apples yet."

Richard wanted to ask Eric about the dogs. "Some of my friends are coming
down to-morrow for the Middlefield hunt."

"If they start old Pete there'll be some sport," Eric said.

"I shall be half sorry if they do," Richard told him. "I am always afraid
I shall lose him out of my garden. He is a part of the place, like the
box hedge and the cedars."

He said it lightly, but he meant it. He had hunting blood in his veins,
and he loved the horses and the dogs. He loved the cold crisp air, and
the excitement of the chase. But what he did not love was the hunted
animal, doubling on its tracks, pursued, panting, torn to pieces by the
hounds.

"Old Pete deserved to live and die among the hills," Beulah said. "Is
Miss Chesley coming down?"

"Yes, and a lot of others. They will put up at the club. Mother and Sulie
aren't up to entertaining a crowd."

He wanted Eric's dogs for ducks. Dutton-Ames and one or two others did
not ride to hounds, and would come to Bower's in the morning.

As he rode away, he was conscious that as soon as his back was turned
Eric's arm would again be about Beulah, and Beulah's head would be on
Eric's shoulder. And that he would lift her over the threshold as they
went in.

That afternoon Richard motored over to the Country Club to welcome Eve.
She laughed at his little car. "I'd rather see you on big Ben than in
that."

"Ben can't carry me fast enough."

"Don't expect me to ride in it, Dicky."

"Why not?"

"Oh, Dicky, can you _ask_?"

Meade's great limousine which had brought them seemed to stare the little
car out of countenance. But Richard refused to be embarrassed by the
contrast. "She's a snug little craft, and she has carried me miles. What
would Meade's car do on these roads and in the hills?"

Pip had come up and as the two men stood together Eve's quick eye
contrasted