as impossible that he could stay in the
one place long when the whole boat was crowded with his intimate
friends. So when J. P. intimated that modern criticism pointed to two
Isaiahs and Jock McPherson strongly objected to the second one, Lawyer
Ed yawned, and telling them he would be back in an instant, he wandered
away.

"Come awa, ma braw John Hielanman," he whispered to Roderick. "This is
a heavy subject for a pair of young fellows like you and me on a picnic
day, come along and see what Archie Blair's up to. I'll bet my new
bonnet and plume he's dancing the Highland fling in some obscure
corner."

Roderick went most willingly. He knew Lawyer Ed would go straight to
Madame, and where Madame was, there would she be also.

Afternoon Tea Willie who had finally come on board with a dozen young
ladies, was running here and there at their beck and call in desperate
haste. Lawyer Ed paused to chat with the girls, for he could never
pass even one, and Roderick turned to Alfred and thanked him for the
service to his father.

"Oh, that's nothing at all!" cried the young man. "You did me a favour
lots of times, Rod. When I had no one else to talk to and tell my
trouble!" He smiled at the remembrance of them. His cheek was flushed
and his eyes were glowing. He looked as though he possessed some great
secret. He came close and began to speak hesitatingly and Roderick
knew he was going to be the recipient of more confidences. "Say, Rod,
do you see that young lady over there beside Anna Baldwin?" Roderick
looked and saw the latest arrival in Algonquin, a very handsome and
well-dressed young lady who was visiting the Misses Baldwin. "Yes,"
said Roderick in a very callous manner, "I see her." He drew Roderick
away a little distance from the group and whispered:

"Well--I--this is in strict confidence, you know, Roderick; I would not
confide in any one but you, you know. But--well--that is she!"

"She? who?" asked Roderick.

Alfred looked pained. "Why the only she in all the world for me. Her
name is Eveline Allan. Did you ever hear anything more musical? She
came here just last week to visit the Baldwin girls, and they asked me
to go to the station to meet her with them, and the moment I set eyes
on her I just knew she was the only one in the world for me. I have
sometimes imagined myself to be in love, but it was all imagination. I
never really knew before."

Roderick found it impossible to conceal a