He found himself speculating upon the sort of house he was likely to discover at the end of the lane--perhaps a crumbling colonial mansion, equipped with a Confederate colonel and a faithful former slave or two. He smiled unconsciously at the red mouth, and was somewhat disconcerted to find the blue eyes watching him. "Were you making fun of me, Mr. Puddin' Tame?" "Word of honor, no! I was smiling to be in harmony with the day, I fancy." "Maryland _is_ lovely. You're a Northern man, aren't you?" "I freely admit it. But I'm on my way to a house-party at Sandywood." "Sandywood?" "Yes. You know it, of course?" "Of course. It's just over the hill from the Landis house--our house. Sandywood is the old Cary place." "I don't know. I'm to visit a family named Cresap." "It's the same place. The Cresaps are only occupying it for a while." "Then you know Mrs. Cresap?" "Hum-m. Aunty Landis knows her, but I suppose she doesn't know _us_--not in the way you mean. I live with Aunt Katey Landis at White Cottage. Uncle Bob Landis supplies Sandywood with eggs and butter and milk." "Oh, I see." "You've never been on the Eastern Shore before?" "Never. But I've learned to like it already. To rescue a girl from man-eating eels, and----" "Girls don't go in wading every day, even on the Eastern Shore." "If they did, I'd walk over from the railroad station straight through the year." "From Sandywood Station?" "Yes. I was delayed in Baltimore on account of meeting a friend there, so there wasn't any one at the station to meet me. I'm a good walker, and----" "And the fairies led you down the wood-road in time to save disobedient me." "Disobedient?" She nodded. "Aunty Landis told me that I mustn't go in wading. She said it was not becoming--that it was very improper." "How unreasonable!" "That's what I thought. But I wish now I'd obeyed her." "But that would have meant that the poor knight would have ridden by without an excuse for knowing you." "Alas! Well, your task is nearly done. We must be near White Cottage." "Don't say that." She glanced about, and then gave a wriggle so violent that she almost slipped from his arms. "Put me down!" "What's the matter?" "We're nearer than I thought. There's the big oak. The lane comes right up to the back door. The house is on the main road, you know. Put me down!" "But why shouldn't I carry you into the house?" "Because--oh, because Aunty Landis would be terribly frightened! She'd think something dreadful had happened to me. Please put me down. I can limp along, if you'll let me use your arm." He allowed her to slip slowly to the ground. "There you are, then; but be careful." A sigh of relief escaped her as she tried her weight gingerly on the injured foot. "It's ever so much better. I won't even have to hop." Her face was upturned earnestly. "Thank you very much, Mr. Puddin' Tame. You've been very kind."