e him no promise, nor shall I make any, until I am
quite, quite sure, that you fully realize he never would marry you if I
sent him away this hour."

"You know perfectly that if your puny hold on him were broken, if he
were back in his home, among his friends, and where he was meeting me,
in one short week he would be mine again, as he always has been. In your
heart you don't believe what you say. You don't dare trust him in my
presence. You are afraid to allow him out of your sight, because you
know what the results would be. Right or wrong, you have made up your
mind to ruin him and me, and you are going to be selfish enough to do
it. But----"

"That will do!" said Elnora. "Spare me the enumeration of how I will
regret it. I shall regret nothing. I shall not act until I know there
will be nothing to regret. I have decided on my course. You may return
to your friends."

"What do you mean?" demanded Edith Carr.

"That is my affair," replied Elnora. "Only this! When your opportunity
comes, seize it! Any time you are in Philip Ammon's presence, exert the
charms of which you boast, and take him. I grant you are justified in
doing it if you can. I want nothing more than I want to see you
marry Philip if he wants you. He is just across the fence under that
automobile. Go spread your meshes and exert your wiles. I won't stir to
stop you. Take him to Onabasha, and to Chicago with you. Use every art
you possess. If the old charm can be revived I will be the first to wish
both of you well. Now, I must return to my visitors. Kindly excuse me."

Elnora turned and went back to the arbour. Edith Carr followed the
fence and passed through the gate into the west woods where she asked
Henderson about the car. As she stood near him she whispered: "Take Phil
back to Onabasha with us."

"I say, Ammon, can't you go to the city with us and help me find a shop
where I can get this pinion fixed?" asked Henderson. "We want to lunch
and start back by five. That will get us home about midnight. Why don't
you bring your automobile here?"

"I am a working man," said Philip. "I have no time to be out motoring. I
can't see anything the matter with your car, myself; but, of course you
don't want to break down in the night, on strange roads, with women on
your hands. I'll see."

Philip went into the arbour, where Polly took possession of his lap,
fingered his hair, and kissed his forehead and lips.

"When are you coming to the cottage, Phil