ur house
propelled by Miss Lacey, and ultimately from that rock, to discover by
what magic there was some big urchin that Miss Derwent couldn't get. I
never knew one who wasn't at her service,--the regiment headed by
myself."

"On the contrary," returned Edna, "I distinctly remember when mother
tried to get you to come to us here and you refused."

"Not refused. Regretted with tears. This is my party call,--the first
opportunity I've had to make it."

"Well, you see now what you missed." Edna waved her hand toward the
landscape.

"Don't I! From the moment of leaving the Tide Mill until I discovered
your blonde and brunette heads bending over this pool my pilgrimage has
been one long reminiscent wail."

"Oh, of course if you talk that way you will restore my complacency.
When did you come to the Tide Mill?"

"Friday."

"In time for the storm, then."

"Yes, but Judge Trent was with me. We sang,--

'You and I together, Love,
Never mind the weather, Love.'"

Edna looked at him with curiosity and approval. A hundred incidents of
their old friendship were returning to her thought. It was almost the
same boyish head and face that topped this tall personage.

"You're just as silly as ever, John, aren't you?" she said. "I'm so
glad."

He laughed toward Sylvia. "There's a reference for you, Miss Lacey."

"You please her. What more can you ask?" returned Sylvia.

It had all, all been a preparation for this moment. For this cause
Thinkright had found her and brought her to the farm and taught her his
philosophy. For this cause she had risen from the plane where Nat and
Bohemia had been possibilities. For this cause Edna had given her her
gracious friendship. The Prince and Princess had met in her presence,
and she was as sure it was meeting never to part as she was that her
earthly ideals could never be severed from theirs.

Edna and John both laughed at the earnestness of her naive reply.

"She intends to keep me in my place, doesn't she?" he said to Edna.

"Evidently," she replied, "but we're both willing you should sit down.
Won't you?"

"I think I'd rather look at myself in your mirror. Isn't that what you
were doing when I descended upon you?"

"No. We have no need here for mirrors from month's end to month's end,
for we never wear hats."

"Tush, tush," returned Dunham, lowering himself with some care among
the projections of the inhospitable rock. "I'm sure you both patronize
mirrors for th