as a trifle. You cannot
break an American's head. Let me go to my own section and I'll be ready
to present myself, as good as new, in ten minutes."

"You must let Hedrick bandage your head," she insisted. "Go with him,
Hedrick."

Grenfall arose and started toward his section, followed by Hedrick.

"I trust you were not hurt during that reckless ride," he said, more as
a question, stopping in the aisle to look back at her.

"I should have been a mass of bruises, gashes and lumps had it not been
for one thing," she said, a faint flush coming to her cheek, although
her eyes looked unfalteringly into his. "Will you join us in the dining
car? I will have a place prepared for you at our table."

"Thank you. You are very good. I shall join you as soon as I am
presentable."

"We are to be honored, sir," said the old gentleman, but in such a
way that Grenfall had a distinct feeling that it was he who was to be
honored. Aunt Yvonne smiled graciously, and he took his departure.
While Hedrick was dressing the jagged little cut, Grenfall complacently
surveyed the patient in the mirror opposite, and said to himself a
hundred times: "You lucky dog! It was worth forty gashes like this. By
Jove, she's divine!"

In a fever of eager haste he bathed and attired himself for dinner, the
imperturbable Hedrick assisting. One query filled the American's mind:
"I wonder if I am to sit beside her." And then: "I have sat beside her!
There can never again be such delight!"

It was seven o'clock before his rather unusual toilet was completed.
"See if they have gone to the diner, Hedrick," he said to the
man-servant, who departed ceremoniously.

"I don't know why he should be so damned polite," observed Lorry,
gazing wonderingly after him. "I'm not a king. That reminds me. I must
introduce myself. She doesn't know me from Adam."

Hedrick returned and announced that they had just gone to the dining car
and were awaiting him there. He hurried to the diner and made his way
to their table. Uncle Caspar and his niece were facing him as he came
up between the tables, and he saw, with no little regret, that he was to
sit beside the aunt--directly opposite the girl, however. She smiled up
at him as he stood before them, bowing. He saw the expression of inquiry
in those deep, liquid eyes of violet as their gaze wandered over his
hair.

"Your head? I see no bandage," she said, reproachfully.

"There is a small plaster and that is all. Only heroe