how beautiful she looked.

"Do you see old Mr. Black over there?" she said. "He's pretending not to
watch us, but he's watching us like a lynx.... Did you ever start a
piece of news?"

"Never," said Mister Masters.

"It would be rather fun," said little Miss Blythe. "For instance, if we
held hands for a moment Mr. Black would see it, and five minutes later
everybody would know about it."

Mister Masters screwed his courage up to the sticking point, and took
her hand in his. Both looked toward Mr. Black as if inviting him to
notice them. Mr. Black was seen almost instantly to whisper to the
nearest gentleman.

"There," said little Miss Blythe, and was for withdrawing her hand. But
Masters's fingers tightened upon it, and she could feel the pulses
beating in their tips. She knew that people were looking, but she felt
brazen, unabashed, and happy. Mister Masters's grip tightened; it said:
"My master has a dozen hearts, and they are all beating--for _you_." To
return that pressure was not an act of little Miss Blythe's will. She
could not help herself. Her hand said to Masters: "With the heart--with
the soul." Then she was frightened and ashamed, and had a rush of color
to the face.

"Let go," she whispered.

But Masters leaned toward her, and though he was trembling with fear and
awe and wonder, he found a certain courage and his voice was wonderfully
gentle and tender, and he smiled and he whispered: "Boo!"

Only then did he set her hand free. For one reason there was no need now
of so slight a bondage; for another, Mr. Bob Blagdon was approaching
them, a little pale but smiling. He held out his hand to little Miss
Blythe, and she took it.

"Phyllis," said he, "I know your face so well that there is no need for
me to ask, and for you--to deny." He smiled upon her gently, though it
cost him an effort. "I wanted her for myself," he turned to Masters with
charming frankness, "but even an old man's selfish desires are not proof
against the eloquence of youth, and I find a certain happiness in saying
from the bottom of my heart--bless you, my children...."

The two young people stood before him with bowed heads.

"I am going to send you the silver and glass from the table," said he,
"for a wedding present to remind you of my picnic...." He looked upward
at the moon. "If I could," said he, "I would give you that."

Then the three stood in silence and looked upward at the moon.

THE CLAWS OF THE TIGER