ay is long."

She began to rub her bare feet in the grass.

"Have my handkerchief," he suggested.

She accepted it with a smile, and sat down.

"Tell me about everything," she said.

Rivington sat down also, and took a long, luxurious pull at the briar
pipe.

"Things were quite lively for a day or two after you left," he said.
"But they have settled down again. Still, I don't advise you to go back
again at present."

"Oh, I'm not going," she said. "I am much happier here. I saw a squirrel
this morning. I wanted to kiss it dreadfully, but," with a sigh, "it
didn't understand."

"The squirrel's loss," observed Rivington.

She crumpled his handkerchief into a ball, and tossed it at him.

"Of course. But as it will never know what it has missed, it doesn't so
much matter. Are you going to live in the caravan? I'll bring you your
supper if you are."

"That's awfully good of you," he said.

"Oh, no, it isn't. I want to. I shall bring my own as well and eat it on
the step."

"Better and better!" said Rivington.

She laughed her own peculiarly light-hearted laugh.

"I've a good mind to turn you out and sleep there myself. I'm longing to
know what it feels like."

"You can if you want to," he said.

She shook her head.

"I daren't, by myself."

"I'll have my kennel underneath," he suggested.

But she shook her head again, though she still laughed.

"No, I mustn't. What would Mrs. Perkiss say? She has a very high opinion
of me at present."

"Who hasn't?" said Rivington.

She raised her eyes suddenly and gave him a straight, serious look.

"Are you trying to be complimentary, Knight Errant? Because--don't!"

Rivington blew a cloud of smoke into the air.

"Shouldn't dream of it," he said imperturbably. "I am fully aware that
poor relations mustn't presume on their privileges."

She coloured a little, and gave her whole attention to fastening her
shoe-lace.

"I didn't mean that," she said, after a moment. "Only--don't think I
care for that sort of thing, for, candidly, I don't."

"You needn't be afraid," he answered gravely. "I shall never say
anything to you that I don't mean."

She glanced up again with her quick smile.

"Is it a bargain?" she said.

He held out his hand to her.

"All right, Chirpy, a bargain," he said.

And they sealed it with a warm grip of mutual appreciation.

"Now tell me what everybody has been saying about me," she said, getting
to her feet.

He smiled as he