" said Joyce.

"Promise?" said Martin.

"I hope, Master Pippin," said Jane reprovingly, "that you can take a
girl's word for it."

"I'm sure I hope I can," said Martin, and turned Joyce round three
times, and ran for his life. And Joyce caught Jane on the spot and
guessed her immediately.

Then Jane was blindfolded, and she was so particular about not seeing
that it was quite ten minutes before she caught Jennifer, but she knew
who she was by the feel of her gown; and Jennifer caught Joscelyn, and
guessed her by her girdle; and Joscelyn caught Jessica and guessed her
by the darn in her sleeve; and Jessica caught Joan, and guessed her by
her ribbon; and Joan caught Martin, and guessed him by his difference.

So then Martin was Blindman, and it seemed as though he would never
have eyes again; for though he caught all the girls, one after another,
he couldn't guess which was which, and gave Jane's nose to Jessica, and
Jessica's hands to Joscelyn, and Joscelyn's chin to Joyce, and Joyce's
hair to Jennifer, and Jennifer's eyebrows to Joan; but when he caught
Joan he guessed her at once by her littleness.

In due course the change of light told them it was supper-time; and
with great surprise they ate the last two loaves to the sweet
accompaniment of the apples.

"I would never have supposed," said Joscelyn, as they gathered under
the central tree at the close of the meal, "that a day could pass so
quickly."

"Bait time with a diversion," said Martin, "and he will run like a
donkey after a dangled carrot."

"It has nearly been the happiest day of my life," said Joyce with a sly
glance at Martin.

"And why not quite?" said he.

"Because it lacked a story, singer," she said demurely.

"What can be rectified," said Martin, "must be; and the day is not yet
departed, but still lingers like a listener on the threshold of night.
So set the swing in motion, dear Mistress Joyce, and to its measure I
will endeavor to swing my thoughts, which have till now been laggards."

With these words he set Joyce in the swing and himself upon the branch
beside it as before. And the other milkmaids climbed into their
perches, rustling the fruit down from the shaken boughs; and he made of
Joyce's lap a basket for the harvest. And he and each of the maids
chose an apple as though supper had not been.

"We are listening," said Joscelyn from above.

"Not all of you," said Martin. And he looked up at Joscelyn alert on
her branch, and