much tact and persistence.

Much of information derived by this resourceful inquisitor was not
through question or reply, but was elicited by adroitly worded opinions
upon remotely similar subjects adapted to time and occasion of their
utterance. Still the mystery deepened.

Oswald had been at Northfield for about three weeks, and was entirely
recovered from his injuries.

Though loth to leave this interesting home, he concluded to go. With
evident reluctance he stated his purpose to Sir Donald and Esther. These
so cordially urged longer stay that Oswald readily consented.

"Why not stay here longer, and see more of Northfield?"

He had no wish to find any sufficient answer to this question. To his
visual survey Northfield was then in smiling review.

Sir Donald suggested a ride on horseback. The air was pleasant and the
sky cloudless. Oswald admired the picturesque variety of wood, stream,
hill, and level field, with their blending, many-colored shades. Esther
commented with enthusiasm upon the incidents of each loved spot, seeming
a little girl again among the sweet scenes of her childhood home. Sir
Donald listened with pleased smile to Esther's minute description of
each coincidence of the past. At times there crossed his refined, mobile
face tremulous shades, suggestive of pathetic memories. The panorama of
twenty-five years was passing before his reminiscent gaze, softened and
blended by subdued tints of receding lights.

Turning a wooded curve, they came upon a grassy nook by a pebbly stream
shaded with trees. The granite inscriptions with choicely selected
bushes and flowers needed no interpreter.

Esther saw that Sir Donald wished to be alone. Without spoken sign, she
rode on, accompanied by Oswald.

Sir Donald dismounted. This strong, mature, chastened man never thought
of wife and child as sleeping there. They dwelt too far and safe for
such pulseless rest. With clarified visions and adjusted lenses these
gazed from their high mounts of observation upon "those graves called
human existence, not yet resurrected unto life."

Esther led the way along a narrow path to an open space, where she and
Oswald dismounted. Neither referred to Sir Donald's whim in remaining
behind.

Oswald had spent a half-hour alone with this interesting girl without
reference to the mystery which had eluded his subtle, absorbing inquiry
for the past three weeks.

Upon being joined by Sir Donald, the party rode on for some