search to-morrow?

"If you win," said she; she felt that she must hesitate at nothing which
would give him that cup. "Another thing, don't you give another thought
to me; you think every minute of your game. If you distract your mind it
may get onto your game."

"I won't let it hurt my game, don't you worry," returned Willy
confidently.

Mrs. Brooke had none of the difficulty which she had anticipated in
persuading Willy to dine with them; and she wondered what suffering
friends of hers who had had his reluctant presence at social functions,
meant by their stories. To be sure, he didn't talk much, but he was a
most intelligent listener; and he was visibly having a good time.

The next day it was bruited about (no one but Jabez Rivers, who had
walked the links with a reporter, could have quite told how) that young
Butler was playing a wonderful game. A dozen of the golf lovers deserted
the great man and his only less great opponent and saw Willy limp over
eleven links, as he beat his man with leisurely ease.

That afternoon, while again searching for the mowing-machine which that
unsuspected but efficient emissary of the Blind God, Jabez Rivers, had
advised them to be sure to find--after with his own eyes he had seen it
trundling into the garage--Willy submitted his plan of rescue. They were
rolling noislessly along a wide avenue, above which the great elm boughs
made a vaulted arch like the groined vault of a cathedral. Through the
arches filtered the sunset rose. Willy suddenly stopped the machine. He
did not look at her. He clutched the handle of the lever very hard; and
she was positive he was pale, a pallor which threw his freckles into
high relief. But she was thinking of anything else than freckles.

"I've thought it all out," said Willy very firmly, "and I wouldn't
bother you the least little bit, not the least. And we think alike about
so many things. I believe I could make it all right with your people. I
can do anything, when _you_ are backing me. It would ease my mind
awfully; I should be sure to win the cup. I know that would please my
father, and he'd help us, maybe. Besides, I've a fortune of my own; I'd
settle it all on you--"

"What _do_ you mean?" cried Lady Jean.

"You wouldn't need to marry anybody else if you married _me_," said
Willy.

"_My word!_" gasped Lady Jean. "But you told me you didn't want to marry
_anybody_."

"I shouldn't mind _you_ so much," said he.

She was thoughtful, h