g the branches, was screened from his view by the
light leafage, and the pale greenish tones of her cotton gown helped her
to escape notice. Accordingly, she bent forward and peeped through the
leaves, laughing to herself as she saw his eyes turned upward, quite
unconscious of her scrutiny.

Yes, he was interesting, she told herself. He did not look in the least
like a pensive invalid as he lay there, and she nodded to herself in
girlish approval, as she took in every detail of his appearance.
Unfortunately that nod cost her her hiding-place. Without in the least
realizing it, she had leaned too far forward, and she slipped from her
perch. She saved herself by catching at a branch before her; but the
sudden jar sent a ripe apple crashing down through the leaves, and it
landed plump in one of the cushions, not two inches from the boy's head.

"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed.

[Illustration: THEODORA'S FACE, ROSY WITH BLUSHES, APPEARED IN THE
OPENING.]

The words were addressed to empty space, merely as an expression of
surprise. The surprise was increased, as he saw the leaves pushed apart,
and Theodora's face, rosy with blushes, appear in the opening.

"I'm so sorry! Did it hurt you?"

"Not a bit. Besides, I was just getting hungry."

As a proof of his statement, his teeth met in the apple.

"Don't you want another?" Theodora inquired generously.

"Thank you; not in that same way. You might aim better, next time."

"Honestly, I didn't mean to do it. I slipped and jiggled it down. Wait a
minute, and I'll throw down some more, better ones."

She scrambled about in the branches, tossing down the bright apples till
they lay thick on the ground about the lounge. The boy watched her, half
amused, half envious as he saw her lithe, agile motions.

"You'll have to come down and pick them up now," he said composedly,
when the shower had ceased. "I can't reach them, you see."

"Oh!" Theodora gave a little groan of annoyance. "How stupid I am!"

"I don't see why. But come along down and talk to a fellow for a while."

Glimpses of a rosy face, a pale green gown and a pair of tan-colored
shoes were beginning to whet his curiosity. He wanted to see what the
stranger was like, at shorter range.

With a rustle and a slide and a bump, Theodora dropped lightly at his
side. She caught the placket of her skirt, on the way; but the sound of
rending garments was too common an occurrence in her career to call for
more than a passin