four miles before Emmet returned,
and so absorbed had Leigh become that his reappearance was a surprise.
They were now at the top of a long hill, from the summit of which the
country fell away till it rose again far off in dark purple ridges of
low mountains.

"I am reminded of California by that sky-line," Leigh remarked. "Only
out there you see no patches of gorgeous foliage like those yonder.
The autumn comes on by imperceptible gradations. The first thing you
know, the leaves have shrivelled and gone."

"The park lies down there in the valley," Emmet said, on whom the
comparison had evidently made no impression. "There's nothing to see,
though, at this time of year. Why don't you go on to Pitkinton and
visit the silk mills?"

"Because I 'm determined to explore the park," Leigh answered. He was
not one to be swerved from his purpose by another's persistence; in
fact, any effort in such a direction usually had an opposite effect.
"I have no desire to see a lot of men working over machinery to-day who
ought to be out enjoying the Indian Summer," he explained. "I'll
reserve the mills for some other time."

The car came to a stop at a switch before a rustic gate, and they got
off together. It occurred to Leigh that possibly he had been a little
short with Emmet, somewhat unsympathetic with his practical and
industrial interests. If this were so, it was merely because he
realised the uselessness of explaining the peculiar intoxication of his
mood, for he suspected that the other would regard such emotions as fit
only for women and poets. "You might come for a walk with me," he
suggested. "The exercise would do you good."

Emmet hesitated, as if he considered the proposition seriously, looking
down the track at the approaching car for which their own was waiting.
"No," he said slowly. "I must be getting back to town, and there's one
of the boys on this car that I want to see."

"Some other time, then," said Leigh. "There are n't any bandits in
these woods, are there?"

"You 'd better keep your gun handy," Emmet answered. "Well, take care
of yourself."

Leigh had by this time reached the wicket gate, where he turned a
moment to catch Emmet's friendly wave of the hand. A few steps more,
and the woods enclosed him like a wall. He heard the diminishing buzz
of the returning car with a sense of relief and escape, for he was
pleased that his invitation had not been accepted. In his mind
lingered a fee