the pole, her breast
flashing its eternal badge--the star-pointed W. Low in the north--as
the country tale went--tied to follow her emotions, externally
separate, eternally true to the fixed star of her gaze, the Waggoner
tilted his wheels and drove them close and along and above the misty
sea.

Taffy, pulling on the rope, looked down upon Honoria's upturned face
and saw the glimmer of starlight in her eyes; but neither guessed her
thoughts nor tried to.

It was only when they stood together on the cliff-side that she broke
the silence. "Look," she said, and pointed upward. "Does that
remind you of anything?"

He searched his memory. "No," he confessed: "that is, if you mean
Cassiopeia up yonder."

"Think!--the Ship of Stars."

"The Ship of Stars?--Yes, I remember now. There was a young sailor--
with a ship of stars tattooed on his chest. He was drowned on this
very coast."

"Was that a part of the story you were to tell me?"

"What story? I don't understand."

"Don't you remember that day--the morning when we began lessons
together? You explained the alphabet to me, and when we came to W--
you said it was a ship--a ship of stars. There was a story about it,
you said, and promised to tell me some day."

He laughed. "What queer things you remember!"

"But what was the story?"

"I wonder! If I ever knew, I've forgotten. I dare say I had
something in my head. Now I think of it, I was always making up some
foolish tale or other, in those days."

Yes; he had forgotten. "I have often tried to make up a story about
that ship," she said gravely, "out of odds and ends of the stories
you used to tell. I don't think I ever had the gift to invent
anything on my own account. But at last, after a long while--"

"The story took shape? Tell it to me, please."

She hesitated, and broke into a bitter little laugh. "No," said she,
"you never told me yours." Again it came to her with a pang that he
and she had changed places. He had taken her forthrightness and left
her, in exchange, his dreams. They were hers now, the gaily coloured
childish fancies, and she must take her way among them alone.
Dreams only! but just as a while back he had started to confess his
dream and had broken down before her, so now in turn she knew that
her tongue was held.

Humility rose as they entered the kitchen together. A glance as
Honoria held out her hand for good-bye told her all she needed to
know.

"And you are