le glanced at
his face in profile; a virile and commanding face it was, and to her,
singularly attractive.

"My thoughts were running in the contrary direction," said Canning. "Do
you remember my saying long ago that once I began to gambol, I was
never satisfied till I had gambolled all over the place? I suppose I
need a guardian, but unluckily I have one. Miss Heth, I've some sad
news--sad for me, I mean. I must go south to-morrow."

Carlisle turned her head with a little start.

"To-morrow! Oh, _no_!"

"No--you're right! I _can't _go to-morrow! The day after at the
farthest, or I suppose Heber'll be down after me with a couple of
sheriffs."

"But I don't understand," she said, hurriedly. "What's happened? I--I
hoped you would stay till the end of the week at least."

Canning's gaze remained upon the fire.

"So did I, though of course I've known I'd no business hanging on the
skirt of Mason and Dixon's line this way. I might almost as well be in
my office at home--tackling the pile of work that's been rolling up
while I go on with this invalid's mummery.... Well, Heber's found me
out, as of course the clever beggar would. He's been thinking, you see,
that I was in Pineburst, at the least. I had a red-headed telegram from
him this afternoon ordering me to move on to Palm Beach instanter, or he
would bring my revered parents down on me like a thousand of brick--no
small matter, I assure you.... Palm Beach--Havana, perhaps!--till winter
breaks!... A happy New Year message, isn't it?"

"It's very sad for me," said Carlisle, looking away from him.

"Well, I can't say that I feel exactly hilarious about it, you know."

There fell a brief silence, in which the crackling of the large new coal
became noticeable.

"Duty is a hard word, Miss Heth," said Canning. "A thousand times I've
wished that I wasn't an only son--my family's one hopeful. But I am,
alas.... And hence the little rest-cure...."

"Yes, it's hard," she answered. And instead of going on as some girls
would, "Don't you think you could _possibly_ stay a little
longer?"--she added, in tones of comforting: "But of course you will
enjoy Florida immensely. You know you'll find agreeable people, and
plenty of fun--"

"Of course! It is my particular delight," said Canning, in his hoarsened
voice, "to stay in an attractive place just long enough to fall in love
with it, and then be whipped away like a naughty schoolboy."

Carlisle slowly drew off her glov