tone. But, as he took her from her horse, Roberta recognized
the surge of his feeling, though he controlled his very touch of her,
and said not another word in her ear. She had all she could do, herself,
to maintain an appearance of coolness under the shock of this
extraordinary surprise. She had no doubt that Rosamond and Stephen
comprehended the situation, more or less. Let them not be able to guess
just how far things had developed, as yet.

Rosamond came to her aid with her own freely manifested pleasure in the
place. Clever Rosy! her sister-in-law was grateful to her for expressing
that which Roberta could not trust herself to speak.

"What a dear little house, a real log cabin!" cried Rosamond as the four
drew near. "It's evidently just finished; see the chips. It opens the
other way, doesn't it? Isn't that delightful! Not even a window on this
side toward the road, though it's back so far. I suppose it looks toward
the valley. A window on this end; see the solid shutters; it looks as if
one could fortify one's self in it. Oh, and here's a porch! What a
view--oh, what a view!"

They came around the end of the cabin together and stood at the front,
surveying the wide porch, its thick pillars of untrimmed logs, its
balustrade solid and sheltering, its roof low and overhanging. From the
road everything was concealed; from this aspect it was open to the
skies; its door and two front windows wide, yet showing, door as well as
windows, the heavy shutters which would make the place a stronghold
through what winter blasts might assault it. From the porch one could
see for miles in every direction; at the sides, only the woods.

"It's an ideal spot for a camp," declared Stephen with enthusiasm. "Is
it yours, Kendrick? I congratulate you. Invite me up here in the hunting
season, will you? I can't imagine anything snugger. May we look inside?"

"By all means! It's barely finished--it's entirely rough inside--but I
thought it would do for our supper to-night."

"Do!" Rosamond gave a little cry of delight as she looked in at the open
door. "Rough! You don't want it smoother. Does he, Rob? Look at the
rustic table and benches! And will you behold that splendid fireplace?
Oh, all you want here is the right company!"

"And that I surely have." Richard made her a little bow, his face
emphasizing his words. He went over to a cupboard in the wall, of which
there were two, one on either side of the fireplace. He threw it open,