He smiled. “I do not let myself think of either, Miss Royall,” he said; “I fancy that a wise man will always avoid the dizzy heights, and even a foolish one will see a precipice.” Diana was silent; that she understood him would have been apparent to the initiated, for her little ears were red, but the proud curve of her lips remained firm and the steady glance of her eyes rested on the darkening valley. The hills had purpled to gray, the sky was whitening, and in the west the evening star shone like a point of flame. Out of the stillness her voice sounded unusually soft and sweet. “I’m going to have some friends to tea to-morrow afternoon, Mr. Trench,” she said; “will you come?” “No,” he replied, and then added: “Pardon me, that seems discourteous, but I am not going out again here, Miss Royall.” Almost involuntarily she smiled. “We are playing the game of tit-for-tat, Mr. Trench, and you’ve won.” “I have been a bear,” he replied, “but--Miss Royall, it’s growing dark; let me take you home.” “I am waiting for my cousin,” she replied, and then blushed hotly. “I promised to wait five minutes,” she explained hastily, “while he talked to Mr. Saxton at the farm. I suppose it’s politics; we’ve been here long enough to quarrel three times.” Trench assumed her engagement to Jacob Eaton and would not offer his escort a second time. “I am taking the dog through the woods,” he said; “shall we walk as far as the farm gate?” Diana laughed merrily. “I never went in search of a lost knight in my life,” she said. “I’m going on; it’s quite light and beautiful yet--good evening.” Trench swung around. “I will go with you,” he said at once, “if you will permit me.” But at that moment Jacob Eaton came up. As he recognized Trench, he stopped short and stared. Then he joined Diana without acknowledging her companion. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, “but the old fool was deaf. We may as well go on, Diana.” But Diana stood still. “This is Mr. Trench,” she said. The two men looked at each other. Eaton had just heard more of what Caleb Trench thought of the Land Company, but he knew Diana. “How d’ye do,” he said curtly. Trench made no reply. Diana gathered up the soft white folds of her skirt and took two steps away. “Good-night, Jacob,” she said sweetly, “Mr. Trench will see me home. Tell Cousin Jinny I’ll bring over the terrapin recipe in the morning.” Jacob said nothing, and Trench whistled to Shot. The dog came bounding and followed his master and Miss Royall down the path.