l over, Captain
Selwyn?"

"Begin what, Eileen?"

"To remember that the silence of selfish preoccupation is a privilege I
have not accorded you?"

"I didn't mean to be preoccupied--"

"Oh, worse and worse!" She shook her head and began to thread the
needle. "I see that my week's absence has not been very good
for you. I knew it the moment you came in with all that guilty
absent-minded effrontery which I have forbidden. Now, I suppose I
shall have to recommence your subjection. Ring for tea, please. And,
Susanne"--speaking in French and gathering up a fluffy heap of mended
summer waists--"these might as well be sent to the laundress--thank you,
little one; your sewing is always beautiful."

The small maid, blushing with pleasure, left the room, both arms full of
feminine apparel; Selwyn rang for tea, then strolled back to the window,
where he stood with both hands thrust into his coat-pockets, staring out
at the sunset.

A primrose light bathed the city. Below, through the new foliage of the
Park, the little lake reflected it in tints of deeper gold and amber
where children clustered together, sailing toy ships. But there was no
wind; the tiny sails and flags hung motionless, and out and in, among
the craft becalmed, steered a family of wild ducks, the downy yellow
fledglings darting hither and thither in chase of gnats, the mother bird
following in leisurely solicitude.

And, as he stood there, absently intent on sky and roof and foliage, her
soft bantering voice aroused him; and turning he found her beside him,
her humorous eyes fixed on his face.

"Suppose," she said, "that we go back to first principles and resume
life properly by shaking hands. Shall we?"

He coloured up as he took her hand in his; then they both laughed at the
very vigorous shake.

"What a horribly unfriendly creature you _can_ be," she said. "Never a
greeting, never even a formal expression of pleasure at my return--"

"You have not _returned_!" he said, smiling; "you have been with me
every moment, Eileen."

"What a pretty tribute!" she exclaimed; "I am beginning to recognise
traces of my training after all. And it is high time, Captain Selwyn,
because I was half convinced that you had escaped to the woods again.
What, if you please, have you been doing in town since I paroled you?
Nothing? Oh, it's very likely. You're probably too ashamed to tell me.
Now note the difference between us; _I_ have been madly tearing over
turf and du