moved rapidly away.

"So!" he said to himself. "Very well, Miss Bibby, it's not dignified for
persons of our age, but you'll give up this chase before I do."

She must have realized this, for, when they neared the waratahs she
stood absolutely still and waited.

"You're in for it now, my fine chap," Hugh said to himself, "and she'll
weep--she's just the sort to weep. Well, you jolly well deserve it, you
brute."

Then he walked up to her.

She wore a dark blue cambric to-day with a soft leather belt and dainty
white muslin cuffs and collar as a relief. The costume suited her
infinitely better than the limp lavender had done.

The colour was ebbing and flowing in her cheeks; her grey eyes wore
their startled expression. But she held out her slim hand, albeit it
trembled a little.

"Good-morning, Mr. Kinross," she said, "slightly pleasanter weather, is
it not? Though I rather expect a thunderstorm, and then perhaps that
will be the end of heat waves this summer. What do you think? Must we
expect another?"

"Er----" said Hugh, "I really don't know."

"Mrs. Lomax writes that it is delightful in New Zealand just now--just
like fresh spring weather all the time. Both she and the Judge are
feeling better."

"Glad to hear it," said Hugh, "but----"

"They are at Rotorua at present," Miss Bibby persisted. "The Judge is
fortunate enough to have among his memories that of the country before
the Pink and White Terraces were swallowed up. But they write that all
is very beautiful still. Of course you have been in New Zealand, Mr.
Kinross?"

"Miss Bibby," said Hugh, "I did not come to talk of Pink and White
Terraces to you before I removed the dust of my journey. I want to tell
you how sorry----"

"I would rather talk of the Terraces, Mr. Kinross," Miss Bibby said,
with a gentle dignity of manner that surprised him. But her soft lip
quivered one moment.

"And, by George, Kate," he said afterwards, recounting the interview to
his sister, "I nearly kissed her on the spot--just like I do you when
I've been ramping round and have hurt you and want to make up. She was
taking it so gamely."

"But I must talk of it," he insisted. "What a low ruffian you must
consider me! I----"

"Oh, no," she said, "I--I quite understand now. I was importunate and at
an infelicitous time. I recognize that I brought it upon myself. Well,
people will forget about it presently--a new sensation will come along,"
she smiled faintly.

"I wa