l feed the hens to-night, bring in the wood and wash the
dishes, you may embrace me once again--now, right here."

She snatched away her head. He sprang forward to catch her--but she was
away, beyond his reach. She ran on ahead and Pats, after a short
pursuit, gave up the chase, for his fallible legs were still unfit for
speed. With a mocking laugh and a wave of the hand she hastened on
toward the cottage. Following more leisurely he watched the graceful
figure in the white dress hurrying on before him until it was lost among
the pines.

Just at the edge of the woods, not a hundred feet from the house, he
stopped. Standing behind a tree so that Elinor, if she came to the door,
could not see him, he whistled three notes. These notes, clear and full,
were in imitation of a quail. And he did it exceedingly well. The
imitation was masterly.

But no one appeared at the cottage door, and after a short silence he
repeated the call.

"Perfect!"

Pats started and turned about.

"A very clever hoax!"

And as Elinor stepped forth from behind a neighboring tree, there was a
look in her eyes that caused the skilful deceiver to bow his head. With
a slight movement of the hands, the palms turned outward, as if in
surrender, he offered a mute appeal for mercy.

"So you are that quail!" And slowly up and down she moved her head as if
realizing with reluctance the bitterness of the discovery. "What fun you
must have had in fooling me so often and so easily! And the many times
that I have hurried to that door and waited to hear it again! What was
my offence that you should pay me back in such a fashion?"

"Oh, don't put it that way! Don't speak like that!"

"And my sentiment about it! My saying that I loved the sound because it
took me back to my own home in Massachusetts--all that must have been
very amusing."

"Listen. Let me explain."

"And to keep on making me ridiculous, day after day, when I was on the
verge of collapse from pure exhaustion--yes, it showed a nice feeling."

"Elinor, you are very unjust. Let me tell you just how it happened. The
first morning that I could walk as far as this, you left me here at this
very spot, and you went back to the house. I was told to whistle if I
wanted anything. You remember?"

Almost perceptibly and with contempt she nodded.

"Well, when I did whistle, I whistled in that way--like a quail. You
thought it was a real quail and you didn't come out. When finally you
helped me