ve just sent Marie
out to return the rest."

She had kept the coat and bonnet that he selected! What in thunder was
there about that to make a man feel so confoundedly well satisfied?

They left the hotel at three, and rode that day as far as a country inn
which took their fancy just before coming into Joigny. It was, to
Marjory, a wonderful ride--a ride that made her feel that with each
succeeding mile she was leaving farther and farther behind her every
care she had ever had in the world. It was a ride straight into the
heart of a green country basking sleepily beneath blue skies; of
contented people going about their pleasant tasks; of snug, fat farms
and snug little houses, with glimpses of an occasional chateau in the
background.

When Monte held out his hand to assist her down, she laughed
light-heartedly, refreshed in body and soul. For Monte had been
himself ever since they started--better than himself. He had humored
her every mood, allowing her to talk when she had felt like talking, or
to sit back with her eyes half closed when she wished to give herself
up to lazy content. Often, too, he had made her laugh with his absurd
remarks--laugh spontaneously, as a child laughs. She had never seen
him in such good humor, and could not remember when she herself had
been in such good humor.

The rays of the sun were falling aslant as she stepped out, and the
western sky was aglow with crimson and purple and pink. It was a
drowsy world, with sounds grown distant and the perfume and color of
the flowers grown nearer. At the door of the inn, which, looked as if
it must have been standing right there in the days of dashing
cavaliers, the proprietor and his wife were obsequiously bowing a
welcome. It was not often that the big machines deigned to rest here.

Monte stepped toward them.

"Madame desires to rest here for the night, if accommodations may be
secured," he said.

For the night? Mon Dieu! The proprietor had reckoned upon only a
temporary sojourn--for a bottle of wine, perhaps. He had never
entertained such a host as this. How many rooms would be required?

"Four," answered Monte.

"Let me see; monsieur and madame could be put in the front room."

Monte shook his head.

"Madame will occupy the front room alone," he informed him.

"Eh? Oh, I understand; a sister. That was a curious mistake. Eh
bien, madame in the front room. Monsieur in the room to the right.
The maid in the room on