"No--you don't get off that easy," said Villard, striving to catch her up in his arms, but she escaped through the door of her father's chamber and tiptoed in to see if he was resting comfortably. "All is well," she whispered on her return, looking up into Villard's eyes--"so you may return to your den, Mr. Lion--it's bedtime for me!" she laughed, as she started to go. "And kissing time for me," laughed Villard, reaching out as if to take her in his arms. "No, sir--this is the kind of kiss you shall have," cried Winifred, as she put her arms about his neck and her lips upon his forehead. Then she blushed, and sighed, a shyness creeping into her eyes. "Only a kiss on my forehead!--not surely----" "If I ever do kiss a man on the lips it will be the one to whom I am wedded--not before," said she, her face lighted with honest conviction. "Don't forget that I am going out Patchogue way very often, in the future," he warned. "I am sure my father and I will be ever so proud if you will come to our home as often as you can," replied Winifred, as prettily she dropped him a curtsey in a quaint, old-fashioned way. CHAPTER XIII. WINIFRED MEETS UPDYKE Next morning Henry Updyke was literally up with the larks, and there were plenty of them about the premises of Dreamy Hollow. At six o'clock he betook himself into the open for a morning stroll. Winifred was also astir, for the call of Patchogue was in her heart, and she must be ready. But it was far too early to arouse the household, so now was her opportunity to once more behold the dreamland from which she would soon be on her way. To the beach and back was her first intention, as vivid memories clustered about its sandy slope, where she had gazed far out beyond the bay to the very ocean itself, and dreamed of "Castles in Spain." And now she would look for those castles again, and the cliffs of Fort Hancock, over Sandy Hook way, easily seen from the place where she sat on the day of her startling adventure. Fearful of the dew damp of early morning she took the inside path and was soon at the waters' edge. And now she sat down, oblivious to all save the waters, which moaned as they came in great waves, and sang as they splashed in diabolic fury and broke into gems of rainbow hue. And there was no one to disturb the thoughts within her mind, for which she was glad, only to turn her face toward the west, and there stood a huge man, calmly looking down upon her. "Don't be frightened," said the big fellow, smiling down upon her. "You surely have not forgotten your father's friend, who used to hold you on his knee and tell you stories, and bring you books from the city." "Mr. Updyke!" gasped Winifred, looking guiltily into his smiling face, then suddenly she exclaimed--"I've seen you but recently, have I not?" "Yes--but you can't guess when and where," he laughingly replied, at which the girl looked far out to sea and pondered.