der she had decided that that form of sport was not at all in her
line. They had, however, taught her how to handle a revolver, though
she was very far indeed from being able to make prize shooting with the
same.

The two were seated in the shade of the tall fig-trees during the hot
hours of the forenoon when this conversation had taken place--this
conversation which had opened with every sign of storm, and had drifted
into calm haven of peace. Edala, for her part, felt all her new born
jealousy allayed. She felt compunctious, even inclined to act on the
other's warning and advice. It was in quite a softened mood that she
turned to her father, who now joined them, looking hot and tired.

"Here, get into this chair," she cried, jumping up and pushing him into
hers. "You look fagged. I'm going in to get you something to drink.
I'm sure you want it."

"Yes do, darling," he answered seizing her for a moment to press a kiss
on the shining aureole of her gold-crowned head. "Well, what have you
two been talking about?" as he subsided thankfully into the comfortable
seat.

"Many things more or less interesting. Edala has at last come to the
conclusion that I'm a hopelessly bad case because I can't do anything
with that wretched gun. I told her I wasn't caught young enough."

"Ho--ho! Not young enough! That's good."

"Now don't you start making compliments, Inqoto, because they aren't in
your line at all," she answered, placidly. And then Edala reappeared
and the golden sparkle in the decanter and the cold gurgle in the porous
water `monkey'--was grateful sight and sound to a tired and thirsty man.
Evelyn often called him by his native name. It was a complimentary one
and therefore convenient. They all disliked the prefix of `Cousin,'
while if she conferred upon him the brevet rank of uncle why it made him
out so old. So this came in handy.

"That's good!" he cried draining the glass at one pull, and chucking it
down in the grass. "You girls look cool and comfy. What have you been
doing with yourselves?"

"Taking it easy."

"So it would seem," he laughed, looking at them both approvingly. He
was thinking how different life had been to him since Evelyn Carden's
arrival. She was so eminently companionable, so tactful and
sympathetic. And she looked so soothing and attractive, sitting there
opposite him now; and some day she would be going away. The thought was
unpleasant. The object of it looked up