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the young man who had chaffed Rodney about the “old school ma’am” on the day of Ann’s arrival.

“Don’t be all night! Come along,” the woman called impatiently.

“Right you are—I’m ready.”

Rodney Marsh lifted his hat to Ann, climbed up beside Mrs. Bentley, and the Omoana car moved swiftly off.

Biddy turned to look over her shoulder and called:

“Mummy’s waving to us to hurry, Miss Merrill!”

“Yes, wait for me.”

Conscious of a curious sense of discomfiture, Ann was glad of Biddy’s outstretched hand. She had believed the young man might feel slighted if she took no notice of him! Well, she had enough sense of humor to smile at her own expense, but the smile was a little rueful. He was superbly indifferent to her notice, or her neglect! Ann recognized that this was true, and was annoyed with herself because she was not altogether free from a sense of chagrin. But to have “condescended” and to find the recipient of the condescension profoundly unconscious of it, and unmoved by the honor, is always a trifle galling.

“Rodney goes over to stay at Omoana every Saturday night,” chattered Biddy. “Emily says he goes on the spree. Dan’s going to take his ponies home.”

Ann felt disgusted with herself. Why bother her head about an ignorant young man who “went on the spree?” But what a picture he was! Who could resist the temptation of looking twice at this shepherd with the proud head and the beautiful physique of a Grecian statue come to life?

Evidently Mrs. Bentley couldn’t, thought Ann drily.