re either. Stay at home with Vinie."

"You won't be coming in from Roselands?"

"I won't be coming here." Rand left the desk and stood at the small
window where the roses were now in bloom. "I shall send you a note, Tom,
to-morrow morning. It will tell you what"--He paused for a moment. "What
comes next," he finished. "There will be a message in it for Vinie." He
turned from the window. "I am going home now."

"It's a good time for a holiday," remarked Tom, "and you needn't tell me
that you don't need it, Lewis! I'll lock up and go to the Eagle for a
while. What are you looking for?"

"Nothing," answered the other. "I was looking at the room itself. I
always liked this office, Tom."

As he passed, he touched his subaltern upon the shoulder. There was
fondness in the gesture. "Good-bye," he said, and was gone before Tom
could answer.

Outside, in the bloom and glow of the May evening, he mounted Selim and
rode out of the town. The people whom he met he greeted slightly, but
with no change of manner which they afterwards could report. It was
sunset when he passed the last houses, and turned toward the west and
his own home. He rode slowly, with his eyes upon a great sea of vivid
gold. By degrees the brightness faded, changing to an amethyst, out of
which suddenly swam the evening star. The land rose into hills, the
summits of the highest far and dark against the cold violet of the sky.
From the road to Roselands branched the road to Greenwood. It was dusk
when horse and rider reached this opening. Selim had come to know the
altered grasp upon the rein just here, and now, according to wont, he
fell into the slower pace. Rand turned in his saddle and looked across
the darkening fields to the low hill, crowned with oaks, from which
arose the Greenwood house. He gazed for a full minute, then spoke to his
horse and they went on at speed. A little longer and he was at the gates
of home.

His wife met him upon the doorstone. "I heard you at the gate--"

He put his arm around her. "What have you been doing all the long day?"

"I worked," she answered, "and saw to the house, and read to Hagar at
the quarter. She's going fast. How tired your voice sounds! Come into
the light. Supper is ready--and Mammy Chloe has said a charm to make you
sleep to-night."

They went indoors to the lighted rooms. "You are wearing your
amethysts," said Rand, "and the ribbon in your hair--"

She turned upon him a face exquisite in expressio