"

To say that Denys was startled is keeping strictly within the limits of
truth, and at first he was not sure whether he felt angry or amused.
But he had grown pretty well accustomed to Donald and Frances by this
time, and after a moment of embarrassment accepted the situation.
"Thank you," he said, "it is kind of you to take an interest in--me."

"Not at all," Frances said graciously, "we think it's really rather
hard lines on you, as, of course we knew all along you wanted to marry
Barbara."

"By jove!" muttered Denys a little helplessly.

"Yes, of course," Donald put in. "Anybody sensible would want to do
that. If I hadn't been her brother _I_ should have. But though it's
rather rough on you, I think two months' absence in America will just
be the thing for Barbara."

The young man gazed at his youthful adviser, and was so overpowered
that he could think of nothing to say.

"When do you go?" Donald continued.

"Next week. I'm coming back in six weeks--not two months--for my
uncle's wedding," said Denys, finding his voice.

There was a pause, and Frances, seeing from her brother's expression
that he was deep in thought, forbore to make any remark until she saw
him smile, then she said--

"Well, Donald?"

But her brother addressed himself to Denys--

"Considering you've been here a good time now," he said, "you haven't
seen much of the country really. Suppose you came for a long walk on
the moor to-morrow with Frances and me--and Barbara?"

Denys' eyes lighted up. "If Barbara will, I shall be charmed," he said.

"I think she'll come," Donald said cheerfully; and moved by some
persuasion or force Barbara consented, and the four started off across
the moors.

They started together--that was certain--but did not return in the same
manner, for Donald and Frances had got most thoroughly lost, although
as Donald said, with a grin, "he had walked that moor, man and boy, for
the past six years."

But when the two truants returned they did not seem at all cast down by
their misfortune, while Denys certainly came back in a more cheerful
mood than that in which he had set out.

"I think you'll find things all right when you come back again," Donald
whispered on the morning the visitors were to go, and Denys, nodding,
gripped his hand so tightly that the boy winced.

"I think," said Frances, as she watched the carriage disappearing--"I
think, Donald, Aunt Anne ought to be very thankful she was so gener