y.

"Yes. He is an amusing little beggar; but I think he shares his sister's
preference for Mr. Bradley. He deserted me here in the veranda for him
at the mill."

"Louise will keep you company as soon as she has changed her dress,"
continued Mrs. Bradley. "She was out riding early this morning with a
friend. She's very fond of early morning rides."

"AND philandering," repeated Mainwaring to himself. It was quite natural
for Miss Macy to ride out in the morning, after the fashion of
the country, with an escort; but why had the cub insisted on the
"philandering"? He had said, "AND philandering," distinctly. It was a
nasty thing for him to say. Any other fellow but he, Mainwaring, might
misunderstand the whole thing. Perhaps he ought to warn her--but no! he
could not repeat the gossip of a child, and that child the brother of
one of her inferiors. But was Minty an inferior? Did she and Minty talk
together about this fellow Greyson? At all events, it would only revive
the awkwardness of the preceding day, and he resolved to say nothing.

He was rewarded by a half-inquiring, half-confiding look in Louise's
bright eyes, when she presently greeted him on the veranda. "She had
quite forgotten," she said, "to tell him last night of her morning's
engagement; indeed, she had half forgotten IT. It used to be a favorite
practice of hers, with Captain Greyson; but she had lately given it up.
She believed she had not ridden since--since--"

"Since when?" asked Mainwaring.

"Well, since you were ill," she said frankly.

A quick pleasure shone in Mainwaring's cheek and eye; but Louise's
pretty lids did not drop, nor her faint, quiet bloom deepen. Breakfast
was already waiting when Mr. Richardson arrived alone.

He explained that Mr. Bradley had some important and unexpected business
which had delayed him, but which, he added, "Mr. Bradley says may
prove interesting enough to you to excuse his absence this morning."
Mainwaring was not displeased that his critical and observant host was
not present at their meeting. Louise Macy was, however, as demurely
conscious of the different bearing of the two compatriots. Richardson's
somewhat self-important patronage of the two ladies, and that
Californian familiarity he had acquired, changed to a certain uneasy
deference towards Mainwaring; while the younger Englishman's slightly
stiff and deliberate cordiality was, nevertheless, mingled with a
mysterious understanding that appeared inna