s in a vile temper that afternoon, certainly," he said, "and I
treated you shamefully. But what I do want to make you realize is that
I would have cut off my hand rather than have made you--or any
one--publicly ridiculous. Will you believe that?"

She only looked at him very gently and without speaking.

"Don't you remember my coming up here--four or five days ago now? I was
coming to tell you to burn the stuff, and then you know one of the
youngsters stirred up an ant-bed and drove it out of my mind."

"Yes," she said politely; "oh, yes, that was quite enough to put it out
of your head." But she looked away from him.

"Then, as you know," pursued Hugh, "I have been at the Caves ever since.
But I took the precaution the moment I remembered to send you word."

Now she was looking at him. "I received no message."

"That scoundrelly young Larkin--do you say that he did not bring you a
note from me?" he cried.

"No, I had no note," she said faintly. "He must have lost it or have
forgotten to bring it."

"That is it," said Hugh, "but I still blame myself. I ought to have
turned back when I remembered and not have trusted a lad."

"There he is now. Oh, Larkin! Larkin!" murmured Miss Bibby in the tone
Sir Isaac Newton must have used when his dog Diamond did him the
irreparable mischief.

Yes, there was Larkin, riding gaily off down the path to the gate, an
empty basket swung on one arm. He had just received another commission
from Anna--a large bottle of patent medicine and a complexion remedy,
and as he had lately extended the field of his operation by acting as a
sort of travelling agent (on commission) for a chemist in an adjoining
village, it brought the piano and the grocery emporium a little closer.

Hugh gave a peremptory whistle and the boy looked over his shoulder,
then responded to the beckon by bringing his horse sharply round and
cantering briskly across to the waratahs.

"Something else, Miss Bibby, ma'am?" he said, whipping out his order
book.

"What do you mean by not delivering the note I gave you from the
wagonette on Thursday?" said Hugh angrily.

"I did deliver it!" said Larkin in much indignation, "which I can say
honest, sir; I never neglected a message yet. And that's why our
business is what it is."

"Whom did you give it to?" said Miss Bibby. "Was it to one of the
children?"

"Not much, ma'am," said Larkin, in open scorn. "I don't do business that
ways, knowin' well what kids--beggin