y back on the sofa and watched her with a
curious interest in her eyes.

"I am so glad that we are spending together in this way the last night
of our delightful week," said Phyllis. "What a lovely week it has been!
and the charm of it is, of course, to be found in the fact that it has
been stolen from the best part of the season. In another month it would
not be nearly so delightful--everyone will be hurrying off to the river
or elsewhere."

"Such a week is one of the incidents that a person plans but that rarely
comes off according to one's views," said Ella. "I told you when I set
my heart upon Hurley what my idea was."

"And you have certainly realized it during this week. What a pity it is
that this is our last night together!"

"Do you know, Phyllis, the way you said that suggested to me that you
meant 'What a pity it is that Herbert Courtland is not one of our party
to-night'!"

Ella was still lying on the broad pillows of the couch, her hands
clasped at the back of her head. She was still watching Phyllis through
her half-closed eyes.

"I was not thinking about Mr. Courtland in the least when I spoke. How
can you fancy that I should be so insincere? I say it is delightful for
us, you and me only, mind, to be together to-night, because we can say
just whatever occurs to us--I thought we could, you know; but since you
made that horrid suggestion I think I must take back all that I said.
It is, after all, not nearly so nice to be alone with you as one would
imagine."

"That was, I'm afraid, the conclusion that Herbert Courtland came to
some time ago," said Ella. "He was alone with me here--yes, for some
minutes; but he left me--he left me and found you."

"It was so funny!" cried Phyllis. "Who would have thought of seeing such
a figure--bareheaded and in evening dress--on the road? I knew him at
once, however. And he was walking so quickly too--walking as if--as
if----"

"As if the devil were behind him--that's how men put it," said Ella.
"It would never do for us to say that, of course, but in this particular
case we might venture on it for the sake of strict accuracy; the devil
was behind him. He escaped from it by the aid of his good angel. Didn't
he call you his good angel once, my Phyllis?"

"Yes, he called me so once," said Phyllis. "But why should we talk about
Mr. Courtland? Why should we talk about anybody to-night? Dearest Ella,
let us talk about ourselves. You are of more interest to me than