"I ought not to need to ask--but I have been so long away.--Do you know how or where I can get a horse, or any conveyance, to bring me there? I have ridden beyond this, and met with an accident." Diana hesitated. "Is it Lieut. Knowlton?" she said. "Ah, you know me?" said he. "I forgot that Pleasant Valley knows me better than I know Pleasant Valley. I did not count on finding a friend here." His eye glanced at the little brown house. "Everybody knows Elmfield," said Diana; "and I guessed--" "From my dress?" said Mr. Knowlton, following the direction of her look. "This was accident too. But which of my friends ought I to know here, that I don't know? Pardon me,--but is this horse to be put to the waggon or taken away from it?" "O, I was going to put him in." "Allow me"--said the young man, taking the halter from Diana's willing hands; "but where is the harnessing gear?" "O, that is in the barn!" exclaimed Diana. "I will go and fetch it." "Pray no! Let me get it," said her companion; and giving the end of the halter a turn round one of the thills, he had overtaken her before she had well taken half a dozen steps. They went together through the barnyard. Diana found the harness, and the young officer threw it over his shoulder with a smile at her which answered her deprecating words; a smile extremely pleasant and gentlemanly, if withal a little arch. Diana shrank back somewhat before the glance, which to her fancy showed the power of keen observation along with the habit of giving orders. They went back to the elm, and Mr. Knowlton harnessed the horse, Diana explaining in a word or two the necessity under which she had been acting. "And what about my dilemma?" said he presently, as his task was finished. "There is no horse or waggon you could get anywhere, that I know of," said Diana. "The teams are apt to be in use just now. But I am going down to within a mile of Elmfield; and I was going to say, if you like, I can take you so far." "And who will do me such kindness?" "Who? O--Diana Starling." "Is that a name I ought to know?" inquired Mr. Knowlton. "I shall know it from this day; but how about before to-day? I have been gone from Pleasant Valley, at school and at the Military Academy, four, five,--ten years." "Mother came back here to live just ten years ago." "My conscience is clear!" he said, smiling. "I was beginning to whip myself. Now are we ready?" Not quite, for Diana went into the house for her gloves and a straw hat; she made no other change in her dress, having taken off her apron before she set out after Prince. She found her new friend standing with the reins in his hand, as if he were to drive and not she; and Diana was helped into her own waggon with a deferential courtesy which up to that time she had only read of in books; nor known much even so. It silenced her at first. She sat down as mute as a child; and Mr. Knowlton handled Prince and the waggon and all in the style of one that knew how and had the right.