him
now?"

But it didn't occur to Stan to answer. I don't suppose he even heard;
he was far too deeply absorbed in the passing drama; and in a minute
more Jim and the black horse were out of sight again.

But I was not at all afraid for him now. I was only proud, and sure--as
sure as I was of life--that he would conquer.

Nobody spoke. Mr. Trowbridge, and Mr. Jacobsen, the disagreeable
cowbell man who owned the horse, ran by as fast as they could go, too
excited to glance at the house, and Albert and Elisha followed. Mrs.
Trowbridge and the girls had come out from the kitchen and were hanging
over the nearest fence. Patty was whimpering a little, so I guessed all
in a flash that she had cared for Jim. (But she is so sweet she will
get over it now he is mine; and already I've made her realise
thoroughly what a fine fellow the great Whit is.)

We stood still in our places and watched. I could hear my heart beat,
and it had not time to calm down before Jim came riding back on the
black horse--a changed black horse, all winning airs and graces, to
cover shamed penitence now.

The creature pirouetted up the side road, and Jim stopped him at the
verandah, patting the throbbing black neck. "Well? I believe I'll buy
him myself," he said smiling to me; and then he saw Mrs. Ess Kay and my
brother.

"By Jove, Harborough!" said Stan. "It _is_ you, isn't it? Surely it
isn't your double?"

"Harborough it is," said Jim, while I listened, dumb with wonder. "How
are you, Duke? I was rather expecting you might turn up; but I cabled
to you last night to Boodles', and wrote you this morning on the chance
you hadn't started."

"Well, I'm blowed," remarked Stan, most inelegantly. "Are you Brett, or
is Brett you, or is he somebody else?"

"My name is James Brett Harborough; perhaps you didn't know, or had
forgotten," said Jim; and then, jumping off the horse and throwing the
lines to Mr. Jacobsen, who had just trotted anxiously up, he came to
me.

"Will you forgive me?" he asked.

"I don't know yet what it's all about," I said, dully.

"Miss Woodburn knows; and Mohunsleigh knew. You see, he and I were old
pals, so I told him I was in love with his cousin, and was going to try
hard to win her, in my own way. You remember Mohunsleigh's friend
Harborough. You said the other day you were sorry for him, and--you
wished him joy of his love affair."

"Oh, is _that_ the reason you pretended to be only Jim Brett?"

"I _am_ Jim Bre