ens of grass and foliage and the weather-beaten pallor of
the implacable Tide Mill. The shrewd, lined face under the high hat
kept piercing eyes on the youthful, drooping countenance opposite.

"Yes, you're totally different from what I expected," he said again.
"You're no more like your mother than I am."

She flashed a suddenly suspicious glance up at the speaker. "I am proud
to be like my father," she declared.

The judge shrugged his shoulders, and the girl continued hotly: "I've
come to a place where no one has a kind thought or word for him. I love
him twice as much as before."

"H'm," grunted Judge Trent. "Even Thinkright draws the line there, does
he? Shouldn't wonder. Sam Lacey carried Laura off under his very nose."

"Thinkright doesn't talk about him," returned the girl; "but that
speaks volumes."

"I'm not going to, either. I'm glad you loved him, and that you still
do; and now let's see what can be done in our situation. Practically
you detest me, but theoretically you love me _a la_ Thinkright. Is that
about the size of it?"

Sylvia wiped her eyes and gave an April smile.

"Now," went on the judge, "supposing we take the latter clause as our
working hypothesis. We're both Trents and chock-full of old Adam. I've
never had any use for girls, and you have no use for old clams of
uncles who keep their heads in their shells when they ought to be
coming up to the scratch; but, after all, what's the good of hating one
another?"

"It's no good," responded Sylvia quickly.

"Well, then, supposing you let me in on the rose-colored cloud
proposition, too."

Sylvia's reply was a question. "Did you really come up here on purpose
to see me?" she asked.

"I did, indeed. Ought to be back in the office this minute. Dunham--you
know Dunham by the way--will have troubles of his own before I can get
back."

"How is Mr. Dunham?" asked Sylvia, again splashing the water gently
with an oar.

"As well as could be expected of such a fragile flower. He's straining
at the leash now to get to Boston to call on Miss Derwent. I expect my
arrival at the office will be the signal for a cloud of dust in which
he will disappear, heading for the first train. A very fine girl, too.
I 'm glad you met her. If I ever admired girls--except when I'm walking
on rosy clouds--I should admire her."

"I knew you did!" exclaimed Sylvia, with a little pinch at the heart.

"You knew it, why?" asked the lawyer blankly.

"I don't know.