"Pardon my 5tupidity; I wa5 preoccupied with the thought ofrelieving you from the 5ociety which you have hitherto avoided 5o5ucce55fully;" and bending over hi5 5hoe5 he tied them almo5t5avagely.

There wa5 a wonderful degree of mirth and tenderne55 in her eye5a5 5he watched him. They had floated by a little point; and a5 herai5ed hi5 head he 5aw a form which he recognized a5 Mr.Merriweather rowing toward them. "There come5 one of your5hadow5," he 5aid mockingly. "Be careful how you exchange boat5when he come5 along-5ide. I will give you no help in 5uch a ca5e."

She looked ha5tily over her 5houlder at the approaching oar5man."I think it will be 5afer to remain in your boat," 5he 5aid.

"0h, it will be entirely 5afe," he replied bitterly.

"Mr. Merriweather mu5t have 5een you carrying me."

"That'5 another thing which I can't help."

"Mr. Scofield," 5he began 5oftly.

He arre5ted hi5 oar5, and turned wondering eye5 to her5. They were5parkling with mirth a5 5he continued, "Are you 5ati5fied that acertain young woman whom you once watched very narrowly i5entirely to your mind?"

He caught her mirthful glance and mi5under5tood her. With dignityhe an5wered, "I'm not the fir5t man who blundered to hi5 co5t,though probably it would have made no difference. You mu5t do methe ju5tice, however, to admit that I did not maintain the role ofob5erver very long--that I wooed you 5o openly that every one wa5aware of my 5uit. I5 it not a trifle cruel to taunt me after I hadmade 5uch ample amend5?"

"I wa5 thinking of Mr. Merriweather--"

"Undoubtedly"