It has already been said that the Adair property and that of Wyvis Brand lay side by side. The Adair estate was a large one: that of the Brands' comparatively small; but at one point the two properties were separated for some little distance only by a narrow fishing stream, on one side of which stretched an outlying portion of Mr. Adair's park; while on the other side lay a plantation, approached through the Beaminster woods, and not very far from the Red House itself. It was in this plantation--which was divided from the woods only by a wire fence--that Janetta had found little Julian and had afterwards encountered Wyvis Brand. In spring the plantation was a particularly pleasant place. It was starred with primroses and anemones in the earlier months of the year, and blue with hyacinths at a later date. At a little distance the flowers looked like a veil of color spread between the trees. The brook between the park and the plantation was a merry little stream, dancing gaily over golden pebbles, and brightly responsive to the sunshine that flickered between the lightly-clothed branches of the trees bordering it on either side. It was famous in the neighborhood for the big blue forget-me-nots that grew there; but it could hardly have been in search of forget-me-nots that Margaret Adair wandered along its side one morning, for they were scarcely in season, and her dreamy eyes did not seem to be looking for them on the bank. From amongst the trees of the plantation there appeared suddenly a man, who doffed his cap to Miss Adair with a look of mingled pleasure and surprise. "Oh, good-morning, Mr. Brand." "Good-morning, Miss Adair." No greeting could have been more conventional. "May I ask if you are looking for forget-me nots? There are some already out lower down the stream. I will show you where they are if you will turn to the left." "Thank you," said Margaret. They moved down the slight slope together, but on different sides of the stream. At last they reached the spot where a gleam of blue was visible at the water's edge. "It is on your side," Margaret said, with a little smile. "I will get them for you," he replied. And she stood waiting while he gathered the faintly-tinted blossoms. "And now," she said, as he rose to his feet again, "how will you give them to me? I am afraid I cannot reach across." "I could come over to you," said Wyvis, his dark eyes resting upon her eagerly. "Will you ask me to come?" She paused. "Why should I ask you?" she said, with a smile, as if between jest and earnest. "You are standing on your ground, and I on mine. I have never in my life been asked to cross the boundary."