Berry, you say? Did he see him well?"

"I think he'd have seen him home, if it hadn't been for the brook."

"Courteous beast. He saw him as far as that, did he?"

"He saw him half-way across."

I regret to say I laughed so immoderately that I never noticed that
Berry had entered the room, until he clapped me on the shoulder.

"It was a neat revenge," said that gentleman; "very neat, my boy. But
you deserve six months for it."

"Hang it," I said, "you seem to think I--"

"I should certainly have haunted you," said Berry.

Six weeks had sloped by.

The train ran slowly into the station. I got out. Then I remembered
my umbrella and got back. Then I got out again. "Porter," I said.

The individual addressed turned round, and I saw it was the
station-master. For a few moments he regarded me with indignation,
obviously wondering whether he would be exceeding his duty if he
ordered me to be flung to the engine. Two inspectors hovered longingly
near him. Then he said "Chut!" and turned away.

I fought my way the length of the platform to the vicinity of the
luggage van. Four porters were standing looking moodily at the luggage
already upon the platform.

I touched one on the shoulder.

"Yes," I said, "it's a nice bit of luggage, isn't it?"

He said it was.

"Don't you think it's that dressing-case that does it? Lends an air of
distinction to the rest. Bucks it all up, as it were, eh?"

Before he could reply:

"So you're down for the week-end too," said a voice I should have
recognized amid the hubbub of the heavenly choir. "Staying at
Watereaton?"

It was she.

Such a pretty girl. Very fair, very blue eyes, a beautiful skin,
and--yes, a dimple. She was wearing a long, fur coat, while a little
black felt hat with a ghost of a brim leaned exquisitely over one of
the blue eyes. Her hands were plunged into deep pockets, but a pair of
most admirable legs more than made good the deficit.

I sighed.

"Disappointed?" she said.

"Not in you--you're beautiful. But in myself. Yes, I shall resign."

"Resign?"

"My scout-hood."

"You were wrong about my hair, but--"

"But what?"

"You knew me again, at any rate."

"But of course. You've the same voice and the same dear laugh,
and--yes, you've got--"

"What?"

"The same ear-rings," said I.

CHAPTER IV

ADAM AND NEW YEAR'S EVE

Jonah rose, walked to the window, pulled the curtains aside, and peered
out into the dar