ung them around sharp
curves, through shady woods, past far-flung boughs whose leaves stirred
and whispered as the great car fleeted by, he fell again to dreaming of
Hermione and the future; and so reached Englewood, a small township
dreaming in the fierce midday sunshine. Here he enquired of a perspiring
butcher in shirtsleeves the whereabouts of the house he wanted and,
being fully directed and carefully admonished how to get there, set off
along the road. And remembering that her feet must often have traversed
this very path, he straightway fell to his dreaming again. Thus how
should he know anything of the round head that bobbed out from behind
bush or tree ere it followed whither he went? So Ravenslee came where
the road led between tall trees--to smooth green lawns beyond which was
the gleam of water and so at last to the house he sought.

Now beside this house, separated by a wide stretch of lawn, was a small
wood and, lured by its grateful shade, he turned aside into this wood
and began pushing his way through the dense undergrowth, which presently
thinned to form a small clearing, roofed and shut in by leaves and full
of a tender green light. Here he paused, and espying a fallen tree hard
by, sat himself down and began to fill his pipe. And now, remembering
his shabby person, he felt disinclined to go up to the house and demand
to see Miss Chesterton. Yet see her he would--but how? He was frowning
over this problem when it was resolved for him quite unexpectedly;
roused by the sound of a snapping twig, he glanced up--and Hermione was
before him. She was coming down a narrow path that wound amid the
leaves, and because she wore no hat, the sunlight, filtering through the
branches, made a glory of her hair as she passed. Her head was bowed,
and she walked very slowly as one in thought; she had brought sewing
with her, but for once her busy hands were idle, and, as he looked upon
her beauty, scarce breathing, he saw again that look of wistful sadness.

As he rose, she glanced up, and seeing him, stood utterly still. Thus
for a long moment they gazed upon each other, then, even as he hastened
to her, she came to him on swift, light feet, and, flushing, tremulous,
quick-breathing, gave herself into his arms.

"Oh, Hermione, my beloved!" he murmured, his voice tense and eager,
"didn't I say enough, last time? Don't you know I love you--worship
you--hunger and yearn for you? I want you with every breath I draw.
When