s
Minty's brother. I know her. How jolly lucky!"

They both shook hands again. Richelieu, eager to get rid of the burden
of his sister's message, which he felt was in the way of free-and-easy
intercourse with this charming stranger, looked uneasily towards the
house.

"I say," said Mainwaring, "if you're in a hurry, you'd better go in
there and knock. I hear some one stirring in the kitchen."

Richelieu nodded, but first went back to the steps of the veranda,
picked up a small blue knotted handkerchief, apparently containing some
heavy objects, and repassed Mainwaring.

"What! have you cut it, Richelieu, with your valuables? What have you
got there?"

"Specimins," said Richelieu, shortly, and vanished.

He returned presently. "Well, Cardinal, did you see anybody?" asked
Mainwaring.

"Mrs. Bradley; but Jim's over to the mill. I'm goin' there."

"Did you see Miss Macy?" continued Mainwaring, carelessly.

"Loo?"

"Loo!--well; yes."

"No. She's philanderin' with Captain Greyson."

"Philandering with Greyson?" echoed Mainwaring, in wonder.

"Yes; on horseback on the ridge."

"You mean she's riding out with Mr.--with Captain Greyson?"

"Yes; ridin' AND philanderin'," persisted Richelieu.

"And what do you call philandering?"

"Well; I reckon you and she oughter know," returned Richelieu, with a
precocious air.

"Certainly," said Mainwaring, with a faint smile. Richelieu really was
like Minty.

There was a long silence. This young Englishman was becoming exceedingly
uninteresting. Richelieu felt that he was gaining neither profit nor
amusement, and losing time. "I'm going," he said.

"Good morning," said Mainwaring, without looking up.

Richelieu picked up his specimens, thoroughly convinced of the
stranger's glittering deceitfulness, and vanished.

It was nearly eight o'clock when Mrs. Bradley came from the house. She
apologized, with a slightly distrait smile, for the tardiness of the
household. "Mr. Bradley stayed at the mill all night, and will not be
here until breakfast, when he brings your friend Mr. Richardson with
him"--Mainwaring scarcely repressed a movement of impatience--"who
arrives early. It's unfortunate that Miss Sharpe can't come to-day."

In his abstraction Mainwaring did not notice that Mrs. Bradley slightly
accented Minty's formal appellation, and said carelessly,--

"Oh, that's why her brother came over here so early!"

"Did YOU see him?" asked Mrs. Bradley, almost abruptl