the watter."

"It was," said Graeme heartily, and sped off up the garden for a
much-needed wash and brush-up.

XXI

"Now what would I like myself if I was in their place?" asked Miss
Penny of herself, while she rectified the omissions of the last two
days in the matter of Nature's cravings for a more varied diet than
Brecqhou afforded.

"Why, to be alone and free from the observation of Miss Hennie Penny,"
she promptly answered herself, and as promptly acted on it.

"Meg, my dear, I am aweary. I am not accustomed to playing Swiss
Family Robinson. By your leave, Monsieur and Mademoiselle, I will wish
you good-night and pleasant dreams," and she went off into the
bedroom.

"May she have as tactful a chaperone when her own time comes," said
Graeme, with a smile. "Do you think you would sleep better if you went
to bed at once or if you had a little walk first?"

"I am not the least bit sleepy," said Margaret.

"Then a stroll will do you good," and they went out into the night.
And Miss Penny, as she heard their feet on the cobbles, smiled to
herself a little wistfully.

Such a night of stars! The gale had swept the heavens and thinned the
upper air till the Milky Way was a wide white track strewn thick with
jewels, and the greater lights shone large and close. As they
sauntered in silence towards La Tour, their faces towards the stars
among which their full hearts were ranging in glorious companionship,
one of the lesser lights silently loosed its hold and dropped slowly
from zenith to horizon, in a fiery groove that momentarily eclipsed
all else.

And while Graeme was still pressing to his heart the soft arm that lay
in his, in silent enjoyment of the sight and at their sharing it,
another star swung loose, and another, and another, till the
glittering vault seemed laced with fiery trails and they stood in rapt
admiration.

"What a sight!" said Margaret softly. "I have never seen anything like
that before."

"Nor I. The very stars rejoice with us.... You have made me the
happiest man in all the world this day, Margaret. I can hardly believe
it is real ..."

"I am real," she said, with a low warm little laugh. "And I am happy.
Kiss me, Jock!" and he kissed her there under the falling stars, and
she him, in a way that left no doubt as to what was in them, and the
evening incense of the honeysuckle and hawthorn wafted fragrance all
about them.

There was still a tender touch of colour in the sky over th