“Oh, no, pray do not. Keep your seat, sir,” said Em., all the more graciously because she had hesitated. “Ay, ay, sir,” said the young officer, laughingly touching his hat. He took the tiller again and steered for the Wilderness, while Em. sat opposite to him with her idle hands before her. “Now you know that you are captain of this boat, and I am only the man at the helm, under your command. I will steer where you order me and stop when you tell me,” said Ronald Bruce. “No,” replied Em., “when I resigned the helm I resigned the command. I decline the responsibility you would force upon me. I am only a passenger.” “Very well,” said the man at the helm, “then here we go!” and, unknown to Em., he shot past the landing below The Breezes and steered for the Wilderness. “Why, where are you going?” inquired Em. when at last she perceived his course. “To take you home to your landing at the foot of the Wilderness and then walk with you up to the house to see your father and mother.” “I declare you are like the fox in the fable of the fox and the hare,” said Em. to herself, but to him she only put a question: “How will you get back?” “Oh, walk it—The Breezes being on the same side of the river with the Wilderness, you know.” “Oh, yes, to be sure!” replied the girl, and upon every account she was very glad that Ronald Bruce was going straight home with her, for thus she would have his company for an hour or two longer, and then he would see the family, and they would all know how he came home with her, and all would be frank, open, and straightforward. “You are very kind to me, Mr. Bruce, and you always were. I know my mother and father will be very glad to welcome you,” she said. They soon reached the island landing, where Ronald Bruce lowered the sail, moored the boat, and would have given his hand to help his companion out, but she, unaccustomed to any such assistance, without waiting for it, sprang lightly to the shore. He joined her immediately, and they entered the forest road and walked toward the house. It was now so near sunset that the sun had sunk out of sight behind the mountain range, casting the wooded valley into a premature twilight. The young pair did not hurry themselves, but walked in a leisurely way through the deepening shades of the forest until they reached the manor-house. Em. then led her companion around to the rear, where they found John and all the family sitting before the door of the Red Wing enjoying the coolness of the August evening. “Well, little truant, where have you been all the afternoon, and who is that you have got with you?” inquired John Palmer as Em. and her escort approached. “I have been all this time on the river, and at the island, father, and I have brought an old friend home whom you and mother will be glad to see—Lieutenant Ronald Bruce,” said Em. Young Bruce lifted his cap and advanced.