d, and from King's Crest.

"And so our day is spoiled," said Archibald.

"We can come again," said the Admiral, "but we must be getting back to
Siasconset to-morrow. I wrote to Tristram. We'll have Prime and his
wife here for dinner to-night, and drive them out somewhere this
afternoon. I remember Mark Prime well. I played golf with him one
season at Del Monte. How did you happen to know him, Becky?"

Becky told of the Major's sojourn to King's Crest.

The Copes made separate plans for the afternoon. "If I can't have you
to myself, Becky," Cope complained, "I won't have you at all----"

Madge, sitting later next to Becky in the Admiral's big car, was lovely
in a great cape of pale wisteria, with a turban of the same color set
low on her burnt-gold hair.

"I have brought you wonderful news of Randy Paine," she said to Becky.
"He has sold his story, 'The Trumpeter Swan.' To one of the big
magazines. And they have asked for more. He is by way of being
rather--famous. He came on to New York the day after we arrived. They
had telegraphed for him. We wanted him to come up here with us, but he
wouldn't."

"Why wouldn't he?"

"He had some engagements, and after that----"

"He will never write another story like 'The Trumpeter Swan,'" said
Becky.

"Why not?"

"It--it doesn't seem as if he could---- It is--wonderful, Mrs.
Prime----"

"Well, Randy--is wonderful," said Madge.

A silence fell between them, and when Madge spoke again it was of the
Watermans. "We go to the Crossing to-morrow. I must see Flora before
I go West."

The blood ran up into Becky's heart. She wondered if George Dalton was
with the Watermans. But she did not dare ask.

So she asked about California instead. "You will live out there?"

"Yes, on a ranch. There will be chickens and cows and hogs. It sounds
unromantic, doesn't it? But it is really frightfully interesting. It
is what I have always dreamed about. Mark says this is to be
my--reincarnation."

She laughed a little as she explained what she meant. "And when I was
in New York, I bought the duckiest lilac linens and ginghams, and white
aprons, frilly ones. Mark says I shall look like a dairy maid in
'Robin Hood.'"

The Major, who was in front of them with the Admiral, turned and spoke.

"Tell her about Kemp."

"Oh, he is going with us. It develops that there is a girl in Scotland
who is waiting for him. And he is going to send for her--and they are
t