ot asking
you to sit down, but--you see!" She waved a hand before her. "There's
nothing but the ground, and that's damp, I'm afraid. So let us go
indoors. Besides, I must put these in water."

"Please don't," he begged. "The ground isn't damp where the sun shines,
and I wouldn't mind if it were. If I'm not keeping you from your book
I'll sit down here. May I?"

"You'll catch rheumatism or ague or something else dreadful," she
warned.

"Not I," he laughed. "I've never been sick a day in my life, unless it
was after I'd got mixed up with dynamite that time. Don't you think you
might wear those lilacs?"

"Surely not all of them. One, perhaps." She tucked a spray in at the
bosom of her white waist. "You haven't told me yet where you got them.
Have you been stealing?"

"Some I stole, some I begged, and some I--just took. I think I can
truthfully declare, though, that there is not another bit of lilac at
this moment in the whole village. I went on a foraging expedition after
breakfast and there is the result. I've examined every bush and hedge
with a microscope."

"And all that trouble for me!" she exclaimed. "I'm sure I'm flattered."
A little flush of rose-pink crept into her clear cheeks. "Do you know,
Mr. Herrick, you're a perfectly delightful neighbor? Last night fish,
to-day flowers! And I haven't thanked you for the fish, have I? They
were delicious, and it was good of you to send them. Especially as
Zenas Third said you didn't have very good luck."

"No, we didn't catch many," answered Wade, "but we had a good time. I
was sorry I couldn't send more, though."

"More! Pray how many trout do you think two ladies of delicate appetites
can eat, Mr. Herrick? You sent six, and we didn't begin to eat all of
those."

"Really? They were little chaps, too. I'm glad you liked them. Next time
I hope I'll have some better ones to offer. Zenas and I are going to try
again the first cloudy day."

"I hope you have good luck." There was a moment's silence. Eve raised
the lilacs to her face again and over the tips of the sprays shot a
glance at Wade. He had crossed his legs under him and was feeling for
his pipe. He looked up and their eyes met.

"I'm afraid I can't offer you any tobacco," she said.

"I've got plenty," he laughed, "if you don't mind my smoking."

"Not a bit. Perhaps I should call Carrie. I think she likes the smell
of tobacco better than any perfume she knows."

"Is she well?" asked Wade, contritely. "