, bidding her not to be frightened.

Gradually the vision passed. The wild tumult at her heart died down. She
became aware that he was waiting for her to speak, and she did so as one
in a dream.

"I am glad you got it back," she said.

His brown, clean-shaven face smiled at her, but there was no hint of
recognition in his eyes. He had totally forgotten her, of course, as she
had always told herself he would. Did not men always forget? And
yet--and yet--was he not still her hero--the man for whose sake all
other men were less than naught to her?

Again Romeo growled deeply, and she tightened her hold upon him. The
stranger, however, appeared quite unimpressed. He stood up and
contemplated the stream that divided them with a measuring eye.

"Have I your permission to come across?" he asked her finally, in his
soft Southern drawl.

She laughed a little nervously. He was not without audacity,
notwithstanding his quiet manner.

"You can cross if you like," she said. "But it's all private property."

He paused, looking at her intently.

"It belongs to Earl Raffold, I have been told?"

She bent her head, and her answer leapt out with an ease that astonished
her. She felt it to be an inspiration.

"It does. But the family are in town for the season. I am staying with
the housekeeper. She is allowed to have her friends when the family are
away."

It was rather breathlessly spoken, but he did not seem to notice.

"I see," he said. "Then one more or less can't make much difference."

With the words he took a single stride forward and bounded into the air.
He landed lightly almost at her feet, and Romeo sprang up with an
outraged snarl. It choked in his throat almost instantly, however, for
the stranger laid a restraining hand upon him, and spoke with soothing
self-assurance.

"It's an evil brute that kills a friend, eh, old fellow? You couldn't do
it if you tried."

Romeo's countenance changed magically. He turned his hostility into an
ardent welcome, and the girl at his side laughed again rather
tremulously.

"It's a good thing you weren't afraid. I couldn't have held him."

"I saw that," said the Southerner, speaking softly, his face on a level
with the great head he was caressing. "But I knew it would be all right.
You see, I--kind of like dogs."

He turned to her after a moment, a faintly quizzical expression about
his eyes.

"I won't intrude upon you," he said. "I can go and trespass elsewhere,
you