entered the wood, and then he left his hiding
place, drew on his overcoat, took his hat and gloves, went downstairs and
left the house in pursuit of her.

He walked fast until he came into the woods, where he heard her voice a
few rods ahead of him talking to her dog.

Then he slackened his pace and walked softly behind her. The closeness of
the undergrowth prevented him from catching even a glimpse of her little
poke bonnet; but he still heard her talking to her dog.

Presently these sounds ceased, and he crept cautiously on and found her
sitting on a stone at the further end of the rustic bridge that crossed
Chincapin Creek, with the dog lying at her feet.

Joshua never could abide Anglesea, and his threatening growl was the first
warning that Odalite had of the approach of her natural enemy.

"You should not walk alone in these woods, my dear Miss Force," he said,
coming up to her side and leaning on the railing of the bridge as he bent
over her.

"I am not alone. The dog is with me, and he would not let any one injure
or even annoy me. See! if I had not now his head on my lap and my hands
around his neck, he would fly at you even. Easy--easy, Joshua, good
fellow!" she added, softly caressing the guardian who was showing his
teeth and muttering low thunder.

"I hope I do not annoy you. Miss Force," he pleaded, in a persuasive tone,
as he bent nearer to her.

"If I speak the truth, Col. Anglesea, I must say that you certainly do,"
replied the girl, drawing the short ears of her dog through her fingers
and watching the process as if it required care.

"In what way am I so unfortunate?"

"You know very well; you follow me wherever I go, and intrude on me when I
wish to be alone. I am sorry to speak so to my dear father's guest; but
you should remember that you are his guest and not his daughter's, and
should give him a little of your society, instead of pressing it all upon
me!"

"The steel must follow the magnet! The moth must fly to the flame! And I,
beautiful Odalite, must follow you! I have no choice."

"You are talking absurdities, quite unworthy of a man of your age, Col.
Anglesea," replied Odalite, without looking up, and unconsciously pulling
her dog's ears so hard that even Joshua's great patience gave way, first
in a deprecating whine that produced no effect; and then in a despairing
howl that quickly brought his mistress to a sense of her cruelty. She
apologized to the victim so earnestly and c