nquent as a hostess. "But come back to the house," she said.
"This is not a hospitable place, exactly, to receive a guest."

The stranger laughed gently. "Have you guessed who I am, then? No?
Well, you see I had the advantage of you from the first. You are Miss
Redmond, and I followed you here from the house, where your servant
gave me the directions. I am Miss Reynier, Melanie Reynier, and I am
staying at the Hillside. Mr. Van Camp--" and to her own great
surprise, Melanie blushed crimson at this point--"that is, we, my aunt
and I, were Mr. Van Camp's guests on board the _Sea Gull_. When he
heard of the wreck of the _Jeanne D'Arc_ we put in to Charlesport;
though he has probably explained all this to you. It was such a relief
and pleasure to Mr. Van Camp to find his cousin, ill as he was; for he
had feared the worst."

Agatha had not heard Miss Reynier's name before, but she knew vaguely
that Mr. Van Camp had been with a yachting party when he arrived at
Charlesport. Now that she was face to face with Miss Reynier, a keen
liking and interest, a quick confidence, rose in her heart for her.

"Then perhaps you know Mr. Hambleton," said Agatha impulsively. "The
fever turned last night. Were you told that he is better?"

"No, I don't know him," said Melanie, shaking her head. "Nevertheless,
I am heartily glad to hear that he is better. _Much_ better, they said
at the house."

They had been standing at the place where Agatha had first discovered
her visitor, but now they turned back into the clearing.

"Come and try the organ pipes again," she begged. They walked about
the wood, singing first one strain and then another, testing the
curiously beautiful properties of the pine dome. They were quickly on
a footing of friendliness. It was evident that each was capable of
laying aside formality, when she wished to do so, and each was, at
heart, frank and sincere. Melanie's talent for song was not small, yet
she recognized in Agatha a superior gift; while, to Agatha, Melanie
Reynier seemed increasingly mature, polished, full of charm.

They left the wood and wandered back through the pasture and over the
stile, each learning many things in regard to the other. They spoke of
the place and its beauty, and Agatha told Melanie of the childhood
memories which, for the first time, she had revived in their living
background.

"How our thoughts change!" she said at last. "As a child, I never felt
this farm to b