't he?"

Roderick's eyes fell. He tried to answer but he sat before her dumb
and dismayed. She saw his confusion, and rightly guessed the cause.
Her nature was too simple and direct to pretend, she wanted to tell him
the truth and she did not know how.

"Doctor Wells was here last winter," she faltered, as a beginning, then
could get no further. Roderick made a desperate effort to regain
control of himself, and spoke with an attempt at nonchalance.

"Yes, he told me he was coming. He promised to come and see me too,
but he didn't."

"No," she caught a twig of cedar from a branch that brushed her
fragrantly as she passed. Her fingers trembled as she held it to her
lips. "He--he told you he was coming?" she asked.

"Yes," said poor Roderick briefly.

"Then--then, perhaps he told you why?" She was examining the cedar
sprig carefully, and Roderick was thankful. He would not have cared
for her to see his face just then. She was going to tell him of her
renewed engagement he knew.

"Yes, he told me," he said. She was silent for a little, looking away
over the ripples of Lake Simcoe to the green arms of the channel that
showed the way to Algonquin.

"Would it--would you think it right to tell me what he said?"

"He said," repeated Roderick, wishing miserably that Wells' words did
him less credit, "he said that even if a fellow played the fool once in
his life that was no reason why he should take it up as a life's
profession." He paused and then came out in the boldness of
desperation with the rest. "And he said that he was pretty sure he
would get a welcome when he came." She flushed at that, and there came
a proud sparkle into her eyes.

She sat erect and looked Roderick straight in the eyes. "And now,
since you have told me,--and I thank you for it,--I must give you his
message. He left one for you."

"Yes?" Roderick braced himself as for a blow.

"Yes, he left a message for you. I did not intend to deliver it but
since he confided in you I feel I am doing no harm. He said to tell
you the reason he couldn't wait to see you was that he had played the
fool once more, and that was when he thought a woman couldn't forget."

She dropped her eyes when she had finished. Her fine courage was gone.
She dipped one trembling hand into the water again and laid it against
her hot cheek.

Roderick sat and looked at her for a moment uncomprehending. It took
some time to grasp all that her confession m