lings as much as you like," and
as he arranged Sylvia's cushions he gave a second sharp glance at her
face. What had become of the sparkle and effervescence of the morning?

"Ain't you goin' to sail, Mr. Dunham?" asked Benny, amazed to see John
settle down near Sylvia.

"Thought I wouldn't, going over," replied John.

Benny gave a sniff which was eminently cynical, as he grasped the
tiller and the situation.

"Well, I know which one it is now, anyway," he soliloquized, as the
boat crept forth across the harbor.

Sylvia was surprised too. Her heart beat a little faster.

"Oh, I'm sure you'd better sail," she said. "I want to think."

John laughed. "This is evidently not my lucky day," he remarked. "I
think even now we ought to go back for the bottle."

"What bottle?"

"The one you were clutching so closely with that white bag this noon.
That certainly must have been the real stuff. You remember we noticed
the effect at breakfast. Then instead of taking me with you to the
woods and drinking fair, you went alone, and at dinner were still more
illuminated; but the last dose seems to have worn off. I'm in favor of
going back for the bottle. Say the word and I'll tell Benny."

Sylvia averted her face and smiled. "Yes, that was a good tonic," she
said.

John looked at her curiously.

"But you must concoct something with more staying power," he went on.
"At dinner you were scintillating. Crossing the field just now the
light had all gone out."

Sylvia shook her head slightly. What a comfort it would be if she could
talk out her perplexities to him and with him.

"You know," she returned, "it is only good friends who can indulge in
the luxury of silence when they are together."

"Very pretty," he replied. "It's very gratifying to believe myself more
_en rapport_ with you than either Edna or your aunt."

"I wish you'd go and sail the boat," said Sylvia suddenly.

"I will, coming back," returned Dunham tranquilly, "for we shall
probably have another passenger. This is our first tete-a-tete,
remember."

"No, our second. I do remember," replied Sylvia.

In those forlorn days at the Association when he was always in her
thought, what would have been her pleasure to look forward certainly to
the present situation. The boat had left the harbor now and was
bounding along its liquid path with the speed which made it the pride
of Benny's heart.

John, leaning against the gunwale, continued to regard her.

"We d