fact that she had encouraged him, and had suggested to the Miss Miners that it would be very pleasant to have him come and stay a fortnight in July. 

 The Sappho slowed down, stopped, backed, and made fast to the wooden pier, and as she swung round, Lawrence saw Fanny Trehearne standing a little apart from the group of people who had come down to meet their own friends or to watch other people meeting theirs. The young girl was evidently looking for him, and he took off his hat and waved it about erratically to attract her attention. When she saw him, she nodded with a faint smile and moved one step nearer to the gangway, to wait until he should come on shore with the crowd. 

 She had a quiet, business-like way of moving, as though she never changed her position without a purpose. As Lawrence came along, trying to gain on the stream of passengers with whom he was moving, he kept his eyes fixed on her face, wondering whether the expression would change when he reached her and took her hand. When the moment came, the change was very slight. 

 "I like you—you're punctual," she said.  "Come along!" 

 "I've got some traps, you know," he answered, hesitating. 

 "Well—there's the expressman. Give him your checks." 

 CHAPTER II. 

 "They've all gone out in Mr. Brown's cat-boat—so I came alone," observed Miss Trehearne, when the expressman had been interviewed. 

 "Who are 'all'?" asked Lawrence. "Just the three Miss Miners?" 

 "Yes. Just the three Miss Miners." 

 "I thought you might have somebody stopping with you." 

 "No. Nobody but you. Why do you say 'stopping' instead of 'staying'? I don't like it." 

 "Then I won't say it again," answered Lawrence, meekly.  "Why do you object to it, though?" 

 "You're not an Englishman, so there's no reason why you shouldn't speak English. Here's the buckboard. Can you drive?" 

 "Oh—well—yes," replied the young man, rather doubtfully, and looking at the smart little turn-out. 

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