ome out in the first two days of my return."

"Yes, do come in when you can. I suppose you will be here a month or
two?"

"No; only a week or two at most; but I shall run up often; the business
will require it." He looked at Aileen. "Will you be so kind as to come
over with me to the coach house, Miss Armagh, and hand my property over
to me? Good-bye, Aunt Meda."

Aileen rose. "I'll be back in a few minutes, Mrs. Champney, or will you
go in now?"

"There's no dew, and the air is so fresh I'll sit here till you come."

The two went down the terrace steps side by side. Mrs. Champney watched
them out of sight; there was a kindling light in her faded eyes.

"Now, we'll see," said Champney, as they neared the coach house and saw
in the window the bundle of brown tow with black nose flattened on the
pane and eyes filled with longing under the tangled topknot. The stub of
a tail was marking time to the canine heartbeats. Champney opened the
door; the dog scurried out and sprang yelping for joy upon Aileen.

"Rag, come here!" The dog's day of judgment was in that masculine
command. The little terrier nosed Aileen's hand, hesitated, then pressed
more closely to her side. The girl laughed out in merry triumph.
Champney noted that she showed both sets of her strong white teeth when
she laughed.

"Rag, dear old boy!" She parted with caressing fingers the skein of tow
on the frowsled head.

"Come on, Rag." Champney whistled and started up the driveway. The
terrier fawned on Aileen, slavered, snorted, sniffed, then crept almost
on his belly, tail stiff, along the ground after Champney who turned and
laid his hand on him. The dog crouched in the road. He gently pulled the
stumps of ears--"Now come!"

He went whistling up the road, and the terrier, recognizing his master,
trotted in a lively manner after him.

Champney turned at the gate and lifted his hat. "How about fidelity now,
Miss Armagh?" He wanted to tease in payment for that amazed look she
gave him for taking a liberty with her Christian name.

"Well, of course, he's your dog," she called merrily after him, "but _I_
wouldn't have done it if I'd been Rag!"

Champney found himself wondering on the homeward way if she really meant
what she said.

IV

It was a careless question, carelessly put, and yet--Aileen Armagh,
before she returned to the house, was also asking herself if she meant
what she said, asking it with an unwonted timidity of feeling she could