in his cheeks, told herself that she had never seen him look so
well, and that surely the journey to the Magical Island might soon be
undertaken.

They were paying the long-talked-of visit to Bessmoor, and Philippa,
who had before now explored most of the roads near Bessacre, had chosen
this unfrequented lane in preference to the usual road which led
through the village; partly because of its beauty, and partly because
she had no wish that they should meet Isabella Vernon, who so often
walked upon the upper part of the moor.

She had seen her on the preceding day, and had given her a full account
of the invalid, but she did not intend that he should be confronted by
an old acquaintance if it could possibly be avoided. It was, of
course, possible that he would not recognise her, but safer to run no
risks.

Slowly they climbed the incline, the pony slipping and stumbling as the
sand crumbled away from under his feet.

"It is a hard pull for the poor old thing," said Philippa penitently;
"I ought not to have come this way."

"We'll give him a rest when we get to the top. It won't hurt him, but
it makes me feel as if I ought to get out and walk."

"You ought to do no such thing," she retorted quickly. "The very idea
is preposterous."

Francis laughed at her vehemence. "You need not think that you are
going to pamper me like this for the rest of my life. We shall be
taking long walks together, you and I, very soon. Oh, it is a joy to
be alive on such a day as this. Look at that rabbit scuttling away up
the lane. It reminds me----" He stopped and hesitated "I can't
remember--but I seem to---- Oh, drive on, Phil. Yes,"--he spoke
excitedly,--"it is coming back to me now--that tree and that gate."

They had reached the top of the hill where the lane ended at the edge
of the moor. There was a crooked oak-tree standing on the right at the
junction of two banks which divided some cultivated land from the
heath, and under the tree was a gate, broken from its hinges and lying
half upon the ground.

"Phil, darling, this is the place. I know now why you brought me here.
It was so dear of you to think of it." He laid his hand on hers, and
then lowered his voice as the groom who had been walking behind the
carriage came forward to the pony's head. "Hang the man!" he said
boyishly, "let him wait here while we go on a little further. I want
to talk to you. Oh, I can see you now. We had been walking up the
fiel