"Clara, one more word before we drop the subject; because I will drop it if it troubles you." Hard's voice came quietly through the darkness. "Don't let us mistake each other again. I've tortured myself for fifteen years, wondering whether I should have let you go as I did, or have tried to hold you. Do you think, with fifteen years behind us, that we made a mistake?" Clara's voice trembled as she answered: "No, Henry, I don't. We were too young to understand each other. We needed experience--at least, I did. I don't know," she added, with a shadow of a laugh, "whether it's the romantic situation, my enfeebled condition, or your noble heroism, but I never felt more like being in love with you than I do this minute." "Honestly, Clara?" "Honestly, Henry. If you give out on the road I shall try to emulate that husky woman in history who carried her husband on her back, do you remember?" Then, suddenly, her eyes filled with tears. "Henry, you've been awfully patient with me. If you really want to embark on the seas of matrimony with such a shaky thing as I am----" "Clara, I never thought it would come about like this or I would have smashed this cussed knee ages ago! My dearest girl, my face is dirty and yours is dirtier, but I'm going to kiss you, and then we'll take another whack at hobbling to Casa Grande." The ranch-house stood dark and uninviting except for the dim light of the fire which shone through the broken windows of the living-room, but the sound of the piano came to their ears as they neared it. "He's composing," said Clara, softly. "Yes, he would be," said Hard, unsympathetically. "They always do work it off that way, don't they?" "Work what off?" demanded Clara, instantly. "Anything that happens to them," said Hard, cheerfully. "You artistic fellows are queer, you know, Clara. Don't try to wriggle out of it." "I shan't," replied Clara, promptly. "But let me warn you, my lad, you haven't made me want to give up my music yet. I'm still going back to have a try at it." "Bully for you! Of course you are. And I'm going with you, either to help you do it, or to make you fall in love with me so deeply that you'll want to give it up." Clara laughed softly and laid her hand on his arm. "Henry, if you can do that, I'll be the happiest woman in the world. Please try!" CHAPTER XVIII BACK TO ATHENS Mendoza and Tom walked toward the Casa Grande ranch-house with fearful hearts. "Dark as a pocket," commented Tom. "You set down here, Mendoza, while I go around in back." From the side, a faint light was visible from the dining-room of the house. "Hullo, what have we here?" ejaculated the engineer. At the same time, he saw a man's figure coming toward him; a very familiar figure. "Hard!" he gasped, darting forward and knocking the load of firewood from Hard's arms with the fervency of his greeting.