r adventures--or rather
his--up there, in quite his own style."

"Well, there was nothing for either of us to brag about in the way we
recovered Arlo," I said. "If the King's impi hadn't happened along in
the nick of time I own frankly we might never have been able to recover
him at all. It was a hundred to one, you understand."

Again she laughed, significantly, and I read into the laugh the fact
that she did not quite accept Falkner's narratives at precisely
Falkner's own valuation.

"How did Falkner behave himself?" she went on.

"Oh, he was all right. He was always spoiling for a fight and on one
occasion he got it. I daresay he has told you about that."

"Yes," she said, with the same significant laugh. "He gave us a graphic
account of it."

"Well he has plenty of pluck and readiness, and a man might have many a
worse companion in an emergency."

"It's nice of you to say that. I don't believe he was a bit nice to
you."

"Oh, only a boy's sulks," I said airily. "Nothing to bother oneself
about in that."

"But was that all?" she rejoined, lifting her clear eyes to my face.

"Perhaps not," I answered, then something in her glance moved me to add:
"May I tell you then, what it was that caused our differences, who it
was, rather?" And I put forth my hand.

"Yes," she said, taking it. "Tell me."

"It was yourself."

"Myself?"

"Yes. Do you remember what you said that last evening I was here? I
do. I've treasured every word of it since. You said I was to come and
see you directly I returned, and that you would look forward to it."

She nodded, smiling softly.

"Yes. And I have. And--what did you answer?"

"I answered that I would look forward to it every day until it came.
And I have."

"And is the result disappointing?"

"You know it is not."

I have stated elsewhere that I seldom err in my reading of the human
countenance, and now it seemed that all Paradise was opening before my
eyes as I noticed a slight accession of colour to the beautiful face, a
deepening of the tender smile which curved the beautiful lips. Then
words poured forth in a torrent. What was I saying? For the life of me
I could not tell, but one thing was certain. I was saying what I meant.
Then again her hand reached forth to mine, and its pressure, while
maddening me, told that whatever I was saying, it at any rate was not
unacceptable when--

Arlo, who had been lying at our feet, sprang up and growled,