t
me see! Second to the right; third to the left--"

"No, third to the right and second to the left."

"And then the bushes and the choice of blind paths. Don, I see plainly
that you and I must trust to Providence. Well, it is fortunate that the
family are accustomed to my ways. They won't be alarmed, no matter how
late I may be."

"Miss Colton, I am not going to allow you to go alone. Of course I am
not. I can set you on the right road and get back here in plenty of time
for fishing. The fish are not hungry in the middle of the day."

"No, but you are. I know you must be, because--no, good day, Mr. Paine."

She spoke to the horse and he began to move. I took my courage between
my teeth, ran after the animal and seized the bridle.

"You are not going alone," I said, decidedly. I was smiling, but
determined.

She looked at me in surprised indignation.

"What do you mean?" she said.

I merely smiled. Her chin lifted and her brows drew together. I
recognized that look; I had seen it before, on that afternoon when I
announced my intention of carrying her from the dingy to the skiff.

"Will you be good enough to let go of my rein?" she asked. Every word
was a sort of verbal icicle. I felt the chill and my smile was rather
forced; but I held the bridle.

"No," I said, serenely as I could. For a minute--I suppose it was not
longer than that, it seemed an hour to me--we remained as we were. Then
her lips began to curl upward at the corners, and, to my surprise, she
burst out laughing.

"Really, Mr. Paine," she said, "you are the most impossible person I
ever met. Do you always order people about this way? I feel as if I were
about five years old and you were my nurse. Are we to stand here the
rest of the afternoon?"

"Yes; unless you permit me to go with you and show you the way."

"But I can't. I'm not going to spoil your picnic. I know you want your
lunch. You must. Or, if you don't, I want mine."

"If you go alone, there are nine chances in ten that you will not get
home in time for dinner, to say nothing of lunch."

She looked at me oddly, I thought, and started to speak. Whatever it
was she was going to say she evidently thought better of it, for she
remained silent.

Then I had a new idea. Whether or not it was her look which inspired it
I do not know. I think it must have been; I never would have dared such
a thing without inspiration.

"Miss Colton," I said, hesitatingly, "if you really are not--i