“I am glad to hear that,” said she, “but it makes the situation more puzzling.  Can it be possible that she is treating him badly?”

“Oh, I could not believe that!” exclaimed Dick fervently.  “I can not imagine such a thing.”

Mrs. Easterfield smiled.  He had really known the girl but for one day, for the first meeting did not count; and here he was defending the absolute beauty of her character.  But the assumption of the genus young man often overtops the pyramids.  She now determined to take him a little more into her confidence.

“Miss Asher has intimated to me that she does not expect to go back to her uncle’s house, and this morning she made a reference to the end of her visit here, but I thought you might be able to tell me something about her uncle.  If he really does not expect her back I want her to stay here.”

“Alas,” said Dick, “I can not tell you anything.  But of one thing I feel sure, and that is that he would like her to come back.”

“Well,” said Mrs. Easterfield, “I am not going to let her go away at present, and if Captain Asher should say anything to you on the subject, you are at liberty to tell him that.  From what you said the other day, I suppose you will soon be leaving this quiet valley for the haunts of men.”

“Oh, no,” exclaimed Dick.  “He wants me to stay with him as long as I can, and I shall certainly do it.”

“Now,” said Mrs. Easterfield, rising, “I must go and finish cutting my roses.  I think you will find everybody on the tennis grounds.”

Mrs. Easterfield had cut in all twenty-three roses when Claude Locker came to her from the house.  His face was beaming, and he skipped over the short grass.

“Congratulate me,” he said, as he stepped before her.

Mrs. Easterfield dropped her roses and her scissors and turned pale.  “What do you mean?” she gasped.

“Oh, don’t be frightened,” he said.  “I have not been acquitted, but the execution has been stopped for the present, and I am out on bail.  I really feel as though the wound in my neck had healed.”

“What stuff!” said Mrs. Easterfield, her color returning.  “Try to speak sensibly.”

“Oh, I can do that,” said Mr. Locker; “upon occasion I can do that very well.  I proposed again to Miss Asher not twenty minutes ago.  She gave me no answer, but she made an arrangement with me which I think is going to be very satisfactory; she said she could not have me proposing to her every time I saw her—­it would attract attention, and in the end might prove annoying—­but she said she would be willing to have me propose to her every day just before luncheon, provided I did not insist upon an answer, and would promise to give no indication whatever at any other time that I entertained any unusual regard for her.  I agreed to this, and now we understand each other.  I feel very confident and happy.  The other person has no regular time for offering himself, and if any effort of mine can avail he shall not find an irregular opportunity.”