morning's fishing expedition, but he returned home
bored and irritated, and could not be persuaded to repeat the
experiment. As Mr Elgood had left him at one point in the stream, and
himself repaired to another some two hundred yards distant, the
opportunities for conversation had been limited, while not even a twitch
of the line had rewarded his amateur efforts.

Margot coaxed, reasoned, and finally stormed, but to no avail. In a
quiet, amiable fashion, Ronald could be as obstinate as a mule, and he
was plainly determined to go his own way. The sun shone; the
surroundings were magnificent; he was free from the jarring dissensions
of home; in easy, light-hearted manner he was content to live for the
moment, and shut his eyes to troubles ahead.

"Remember what the Chieftain said to as the first day we were here!" he
protested vigorously. "We ought to cultivate the spirit of children; to
rejoice in the present, and trust for the future; whereas you want me to
begin worrying the very first thing. I do call it stupid of you,
Margot!"

"But, my dear boy--remember September! September is coming, and if you
don't bestir yourself to take advantage of this last chance, you will be
bemoaning your hard fate, and calling out that your life is ruined! Do,
for goodness' sake, descend from the clouds and be practical for once!
I'd help you if I could, but how can I, when the man refuses even to
look at me?"

Margot's voice took a plaintive tone as she uttered those last words.
She was so unaccustomed to be ignored, that the editor's avoidance
rankled in her mind. She found her thoughts persistently returning to
him in every period of leisure; when he was near, she was acutely
conscious of his presence; when he was absent, her mind followed after
him, wondering where he was, what he was doing, and of what he was
thinking. Having once seen a glimpse of the real man when, in the
character of Elspeth, she had looked into his face, sparkling with
youth, kindliness, and humour, she understood that the abstracted figure
which sat at the table at meal-times was but the shell of the real
George Elgood, and that, if the barriers of shyness and reserve could
once be overcome, he would prove an even more fascinating companion than
his brother. The desire to know him grew daily in intensity, while,
unconsciously to herself, the personal element slowly predominated the
thought of Ron and Ron's future.

Now, as the brother and sister