the river?"

"Because I don't like to see people too happy, that is the reason," and
Nan flopped herself down upon the ground, and began to weave a wreath
of lilies with her deft fingers. "Come, Sadie," she ordered, "you make
one, too. My, it's hot! Nell's always cool and never flustered," she
continued, as she snapped off a stem and tucked a lily into its proper
place.

"It's necessary for some one to be cool," her sister replied. "I do
not know what would happen if I didn't try to keep my senses."

Nan merely tossed her head and went on with her work. She was
certainly a remarkable specimen of healthy, buoyant girlhood, with face
aglow and eyes sparkling with animation. What a subject she would make
for an artist, Douglas mused as he watched her as she worked and talked.

"There," Nan at length cried, as she held up her finished wreath for
inspection. "Give it to the fairest, sir," she dramatically demanded.

"The Judgment of Paris, eh?" Douglas smiled.

"No; your judgment."

"That would be rather embarrassing, would it not?"

"I dare you to do it," and she dangled the wreath before him.

"Come, come, Nan," Nell chided. "Don't be foolish. You make Mr.
Handyman feel badly."

"That's just what I want to do. He has neglected me, and I want to
punish him."

"Give me the wreath," and Douglas stretched out his hand.

Rising to his feet, he placed the beautiful lilies upon Nell's head,
and then stepped back to view the effect.

"There," and he turned to Nan, "I have accepted your dare, so I hope
you are satisfied."

"You mean thing!" the girl pouted. "I don't want anything more to do
with you. Come, Sadie, let's go for a walk. We're not wanted here."

"You must not go now, Nan," her sister ordered. "It will soon be tea
time, and I want you to help me. Father will be awake soon."

The time sped all too quickly for Douglas, and he wondered what would
happen before he should spend another such pleasant afternoon with
Nell. She did not remove the wreath he had placed upon her head until
that evening after he had left her at the cottage door. Then she
placed it in a dish of water to keep the lilies fresh as long as
possible in memory of that happy day. A strange happiness possessed
her, and her heart was full of peace such as she had never before
experienced.

Douglas had the feeling that he was now nearing a crisis in his sojourn
at Rixton, and the next morning he told Jake that he had bett