then
subsided immediately, wagging his tail and whining as he snuffed in the
direction of the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Hallo, Glanton," sung out a gruff voice. "You taking lessons in high
art? They're wondering where you've got to, Aida. They're going to
have tea."

"Well, tell them not to wait. I'll be in directly when I'm ready."

"Oh no. No hurry about that," answered Falkner with an evil grin,
flinging himself on the ground beside us, and proceeding leisurely to
fill his pipe. "We'll all stroll back together--eh, Glanton?"

I am ashamed to remember how I hated Falkner Sewin at that moment. Had
he heard what I had been saying, or any part of it? But he had thrust
his obnoxious presence between it and the answer, and that sort of
opportunity does not readily recur, and if it does, why the repetition
is apt to fall flat.

He lay there, maliciously watching me--watching us--and the expression
of his face was not benevolent, although he grinned. He noted his
cousin's slight confusion, and delighted to add to it by keeping his
glance fixed meaningly upon her face. Then he would look from the one
to the other of us, and his grin would expand. There was a redeeming
side to his disgust at the situation from his point of view. He was
annoying us both--annoying us thoroughly--and he knew it.

She, for her part, showed no sign of it as she continued her painting
serenely. Further exasperated, Falkner began teasing Arlo, and this had
the effect of wearying Aida of the situation. She got up and announced
her intention of returning to the house.

And Falkner, walking on the other side of her, solaced himself with
making objectionable remarks, in an objectionable tone, knowing well
that the same stopped just short of anything one could by any
possibility take up.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

"THE ANSWER IS--YES."

Nothing could exceed the warmth and cordiality of the reception I
experienced at the hands of the rest of the family. I might have been
one of themselves so rejoiced they all seemed at having me in their
midst again--all of course save Falkner. But among the feminine side of
the house I thought to detect positive relief, as though my return had
dispelled some shadowy and haunting apprehension. There was something
about the old Major, however, that convinced me he was cherishing an
idea in the back ground, an idea upon which he would invite my opinion
at the earliest opportunity. And t