one or something
there which has powerful attractions."

"Yes, memories; as well as skies so bright that you can't help smiling
back at them."

"I supposed you were going to enter society this fall and create a
_furore_."

"Oh, bah!" Then she began to laugh, and said, "A certain gentleman in
this house thought I was so bent on having my fling in society that I
didn't wish to be embarrassed by even a little fraternal counsel."

"A certain fellow in this house finds himself embarrassed by a
black-eyed clairvoyant, who reads his thoughts as if they were
sign-boards, but remains inscrutable herself."

"Such an objectionable and inconvenient creature should certainly be
banished to wilds of the West"

"As one of the Muir family I'll never consent."

"You'll soon be engrossed by cares of your own," she concluded,
laughing. "Good-night."

"Stay," said Graydon, eagerly; "one so gifted with second-sight should
be able to read the thoughts of others."

"Whose?" Madge asked, demurely.

"Whose indeed? As if you did not know! Miss Wildmere's."

"What! Reveal a woman's thoughts? I won't speak to you again
to-night;" and she left him with his tranquillity not a little
disturbed.

CHAPTER XXV

GOSSAMER THREADS

Mr. Muir was to depart on the early train the following morning, and
was pleased when Madge opened her door at the same time and said, "I'm
going to see that you have a good breakfast and a good send-off."

She chattered merrily with him during the meal, ignoring his somewhat
wistful and questioning glances. "When shall we see you again, Henry?"
she asked.

"Friday evening, I hope."

"Don't work and worry too much."

"I defy fate now. You've given me your luck."

"Heaven forbid! Well, good-by."

A little later she and two of her boys, as she called them, were off
on the hills. Mrs. Muir and Graydon breakfasted long after, and the
latter observed with a frown that Arnault was still at the Wildmere
table, with all the serenity of one _en famille_.

"Doctor," he said, a little later, "how much will you take--the money
to be given to your chapel--to go trouting with me for a day?"

"A good round sum," Dr. Sommers replied.

"All right. When can you go?"

"Wednesday, I guess, if I can leave my patients."

"Oh, come now; go and give your patients a chance to get well."

"Wait till I catch you sick, and I'll pay you up for that."

"You'll stand a better chance of catching trout."

The day