Harrington did not answer, except with a grave bow, but looked at her
searchingly from head to foot.

"Yes," she continued, dragging her veil forward, "I found a rough walk
after the storm, everything is so wet and gloomy. The only dry spot upon
the shore was around the old cedar, where we had that rather interesting
scene last night."

A quiet smile stole over Harrington's lip. "Indeed," he said, "I must
have ridden at a snail's pace, to let you reach this spot before
me--especially if the entire walk was beguiled by the book I just saw
you surrender!"

A faint flush stole over Agnes Barker's forehead, and for an instant her
eyes fell; then she looked up again with the pretty deprecating glance
of one who had been caught in a meritorious act, which her modesty
disclaimed.

"Oh, you must not think me quite insane, Mr. Harrington, if I did bring
out my sketch-book, in hopes of stealing some of the beautiful autumn
tints from these masses of foliage. My good nurse has just been scolding
me for sitting on the damp ground, forgetting my shawl behind, and all
that. As a punishment, she has carried off my poor book, and threatens
to burn it. I have been very imprudent, and very indecorous, you will
say," she added, glancing at her dress, with a faint laugh, "but, no
doubt my caprice is sufficiently punished by this time; for, if that
access of smoke means anything, my poor sketch-book is ashes now."

She spoke a little rapidly, as one does in a fever, but otherwise her
manner was the perfection of modest innocence. Indeed, there was no
appearance of confusion, which the derangement of her dress was not
quite sufficient to account for.

"Well, you come in and rest a while?" she said at last, casting a soft
glance upward from her dress. "My good mammy may not be prepared for
such company, but she will make you welcome."

"Yes," said Harrington, struck by a sudden wish to see more of the woman
who had interested him so much, "I will go in, thank you!"

She turned, as if to precede him, but throwing his bridle over a
sapling, he walked rapidly forward, and overtook her just before she
entered the house. The door was partly open. Agnes turned upon the
threshold.

"I know that my poor book is burned, without asking," she said, in a
voice much louder than usual. "You have no idea, Mr. Harrington, how
careful nurse is of my health. Do not be surprised if she is very angry
with me!"

"It is very difficult to surprise me