age took him to the city after lunch and as usual was instructed
to return to The Crags. This gave Jack opportunity to see Chief
Roberts and to learn that Yeasky was resting easily and cheerfully,
apparently eager to live up to the very letter of his contract.

Anne was in her room when he returned and Sara was with her. Koltsoff
came back in a taxicab in a frightful state of mind, bordering on
mental disintegration, about four o'clock--just in time to keep an
appointment with his host and Marie to drive to the Reading Room. As
he crossed the veranda, a French bull pup ran playfully between his
feet and nearly tripped him. He kicked at the animal, which fled
squealing down the steps.

"Hey, you," cried the peppery Ronald, "that's my dog."

The Prince turned with a half snarl and flung himself into the house.

"The great big Turk!" said Ronald, turning to Armitage. "What does he
want here, anyway?"

It was nearly five o'clock when the telephone of the garage rang and
Armitage was ordered to bring Anne's car to the house. Her manner was
quiet, her voice very low, as she gave him his orders.

"To town by the back road," she said. She stopped at one or two stores
along Thames Street and finally settling herself back in her seat,
said, "Now you can drive home."

Armitage looked at her for a second.

"Do you mind if I take a roundabout way? I should like to talk to you."

Anne returned his gaze without speaking.

Then she nodded slowly.

"Yes, if you like," she said.

"Thank you."

He drove the car up the steep side streets, across Bellevue Avenue, and
then headed into a little lane. Here he stopped. Overhead ash and
beech and maple trees formed a continuous arch. Gray stone walls
hedged either side. Beyond each line of wall, pleasant orchards
stretched away. The sidewalks were velvet grass. Birds of brilliant
plumage flashed among the foliage and their twittering cries were the
only sounds. Patches of gold sunlight lay under the orchard trees,
level rays flowed heavily through the branches and rested on the
moss-grown stones.

The pastoral beauty, the great serenity, the utter peace seemed to
preclude words. And the spell was immediately upon the two. The
down-turned brim of her hat shaded her eyes, but permitted sunlight to
lie upon her mouth and chin and to rest where her hair rippled and
flowed about her bare neck.

She raised her face--and her eyes, even, level, wondering, sought his.