ensible. We haven't decided
yet what we're going to do."

"I'm going home," said Ambrose, "to work like a galley-slave."

"It is so far," she murmured.

"I'll find some way of letting you hear from me. Twice before the
winter sets in I'll send a messenger. And you, you keep a little book
and write in it whenever you think of me, and send it back by my
messenger."

"A little book won't hold it all," she said naively.

"Meanwhile I'll be making a place for you. I couldn't take you to
Moultrie."

She asked why.

"Eva, Peter's wife," he explained. "In a way Peter is my boss, you
see. It would be a horrible situation."

"I see," said Colina. "But if there was no help for it I could."

"Ah, you're too good to me!" he cried. "But it won't be necessary.
Peter and I have always intended to open other posts. I'll take the
first one, and you and I will start on our own. Think of it! It makes
me silly with happiness!"

Upon this foundation they raised a shining castle in the air.

"I must go," said Colina finally, "or father will be equipping an armed
force to take me."

"You must go," he agreed, but weakly.

They repeated it at intervals without any move being made. At last she
got up.

"Is this--good-by?" she faltered.

He nodded.

They both turned pale. They were silent. They gazed at each other
deeply and wistfully.

"Ah! I can't! I can't!" murmured Colina brokenly. "Such a little
time to be happy!"

They flew to each other's arms.

"No--not quite good-by!" said Ambrose shakily. "I'll write to you
to-morrow morning--everything I think of to-night. I'll send it by
Tole Grampierre. You can send an answer by him."

"Ah, my dear love, if you forget me I shall die!"

"You doubt me still! I tell you, you have changed everything for me.
I cannot forget you unless I lose my mind!"

CHAPTER X.

ANOTHER VISITOR.

Ambrose, having filled the day as best he could with small tasks, was
smoking beside his fire and enviously watching his dog. Job had no
cares to keep him wakeful. It was about eight o'clock, and still full
day.

It was Ambrose's promise to visit Simon Grampierre that had kept him
inactive all day. He did not wish to complicate the already delicate
situation between Grampierre and Gaviller by an open visit to the
former. He meant to go with Tole at dawn.

Suddenly Job raised his head and growled. In a moment Ambrose heard
the sound of a horse approaching at a