's
plenty good enough. Of course I shall go there. I beg your pardon for
suggesting anything else. I forgot my resolve. I didn't realize what I
was doing."

"I prefer going there myself," she said, rapidly. "I _much_ prefer
it."

And she turned toward the chamber to make arrangements for departure.
But Pats stepped forward and said, decisively, and in a tone that
surprised her:

"You stay here. I go to the other house myself."

He took his hat, and with Solomon at his heels strode rapidly to the
door. There he stopped, and with his hand on the latch said, more
gently, in his usual manner:

"Wouldn't you like Solomon to stay here with you? He is lots of company,
and a protector."

She made no reply, but looked with glacial indifference from the man to
his dog.

"You would feel less lonesome, I know." Patting Solomon on the head and
pointing to the haughty figure, "You stay here, old man. That's all
right. I'll see you in the morning."

The dog clearly preferred going with his master, but Pats, with a
pleasant good-night to the lady, stepped out into the darkness and
closed the door behind him.

Solomon, with his nose to the door, stood for several moments in silent
protest against this desertion. Later, however, he followed Elinor into
the bed-chamber, and although his presence gave her courage and was
distinctly a solace, she remained vaguely apprehensive and too ill at
ease to undress and go to bed; so, instead, she lay on the outside of
it, in a wrapper.

Without, the northeast wind had become a gale. The howling of the storm,
together with the ghostly silence of the many-peopled room excited her
imagination and quickened her fears.

But weariness and perfect physical relaxation overcame exhausted nerves,
and at last the lady slept.

[Illustration]

VIII

"WOMEN ARE DEVILS"

So sound was Elinor Marshall's sleep that when she awoke the old clock
behind the door was celebrating, with its usual music, the hour of nine.
From the fury of the rain upon the roof and the sheets of water coursing
down the little panes of the window in her chamber, it seemed as if a
deluge had arrived. And upon opening the front door she stepped hastily
back to avoid the water from the roof and the spattering from the
doorstep. But Solomon was not afraid. He darted out into the rain and
disappeared among the pines.

"Mr. Boyd will surely get a soaking when he comes for his breakfast,"
she thought. And she wonder