n escort!"

"I'll try," she answered. "Dear Maurice, do order the car for
half-an-hour's time, will you?"

He laughed.

"Why this wild rush?" he inquired.

"I don't know," she answered. "It is just a feeling, perhaps. I want
to get away, a long way off, very soon. I can't explain. Don't ask me
to explain, any of you. You are sure those are all the letters?"

"Certain," Rochester answered. "And, Lois," he added, looking up,
"remember this. You speak and look this morning like one who has
fears. I repeat it, you have absolutely nothing to fear. I am your
guardian still, although you are of age, and I promise you that
nothing harmful, nothing threatening, shall come near you."

She drew a little sigh. She did not make him any answer at all, and
yet in a sense it was clear that his words had brought her some
comfort.

"Don't expect us back till dinner-time," she declared. "I am going to
sit behind with Maurice and be bored to death, but I am going to be
out of doors till it is dark. I wish you did not bore me so, Maurice,"
she added, smiling up at him.

"I won't to-day, anyhow," he answered, "because if I talk at all I am
going to talk about yourself."

As the day wore on, Lois seemed to lose the depression which had come
over her during the early morning. By luncheon she was laughing and
chattering, talking over her presents. Soon, when they were speeding
on the road again, she felt her hand suddenly held.

"Lois," her companion said, "this is your birthday, and you are a free
woman, free to give yourself to whom you will. It should be the
happiest day of your life. Won't you make it the happiest day of
mine?"

"Oh, if only I could!" she answered, with a sudden return of her old
nervousness. "Maurice, if only I dared!"

He laughed scornfully.

"Dear Lois," he said, "you are impressionable, and you have let
yourself become the victim of some very foolish fancies. You are a
free agent. I tell you this now, and I tell you the truth. You are a
free agent, free to give your love where you will, free to give
yourself to whom you choose. And I come to you first on your birthday,
Lois. You know that I love you. Give yourself to me, little girl, and
never anything harmful shall come near you. I swear it, on my honor,
Lois."

She drew a little sigh of content, and her arm stole shyly up to his
shoulder. In a moment she was in his arms.

"Don't be angry with me, Maurice," she sobbed, "if I am a little
strange ju