g in her stall, a corn-bin opened and shut, and Halkett's
footsteps in the yard. Soon they were lost in the softness of the larch
needles, but the whistling warned her of his coming and alarmed her with
its pulsing lilt, and as she moved away and tried to make no noise, a
dry branch snapped under her feet.

"Where are you?" he called out.

"Here," she answered, and awaited him. She could see the light gleaming
in his eyes.

"Were you running off?"

"I didn't run."

He wound his arm about a tree and said, "We came at a pace, the mare and
I."

"I heard you. Is Dr. Mackenzie coming?"

"Yes--fast as that old nag of his will bring him."

She slipped limply to the ground for she was chilled. She had braced
herself for danger and it had turned aside, and she felt no
thankfulness: she merely found George Halkett dull.

"Thank you for going," she said in cool tones. "Now I must go back and
see how Notya is."

"No. I want to show you the side saddle."

"Which?"

"The one for you."

Adventure was hovering again. "For me? Are you really going to teach me
to ride?"

"Didn't I say so?"

"But when?"

"When the rest of the world's in their beds."

"Oh. Won't it be too dark?"

"We'll manage. We'll try it first in daylight, right over the moor where
no one goes. Most nights are not much darker than it is now, though. I
can see you easily."

"Can you?" She was rocking herself in the way to which she had
accustomed him. "What can you see?"

"Black hair and black eyes. Come here."

"I'm quite comfortable and you should never tell a lady to come to you,
George."

"Are you asking me to come to you?"

"Don't be silly. Aren't you going to show me the saddle?"

"Yes. Where's your hand? I'll help you up. There you are! No, I'll keep
your hand. The ground's steep and you might fall."

"No. Let me have it, George."

Her resistance broke the bonds he had laid on himself, and over her
there fell a kind of wavering darkness in which she was drawn to him and
held against his breast. His coat smelt of peat and tobacco; she felt
his strength and the tense muscles under his clothes, and she did not
struggle to get free of him. Ages of warm, dark time seemed to have
passed over her before she realized that he was doing something to her
hair. He was kissing it and, without any thought, obedient to the hour,
she turned up her face to share those kisses. He uttered a low sound and
put a hand to either of her cheeks, marki