The newcomer threw his head back and laughed once more. His companion did not join him. She gazed at him with apparent seriousness. When he had ceased laughing, Prudence inquired: "Did Lady Maxwell come over with you?" Lord Maxwell's face grew more grave. "Yes; we took the trip for her health. The doctors said a sea voyage would tone her up, so we came over here. And now they've sent her to the Sulphur Springs. I've just taken her there. Her mother's with her, you know, and her maid, and her mother's maid, and somehow it seemed as if I'd better take a run round over the States, you know." "Is Lady Maxwell's health improved?" "I can't exactly tell. Some days she seems better, and then she'll be all down; malaria, you know." "No, I didn't know." "Yes; had Roman fever once, so her mother says. Wasn't treated right. I say, is this what they call Massachusetts Bay?" Lord Maxwell swept out his arm towards the water. "Yes, that's what they call it." The gentleman expatiated again upon the beauties of his surroundings; he assured his companion that she must have no end of a jolly time, and then asked, with some abruptness, "Any men here?" "One now; but a prospect of more." There was a brief silence after this question and answer. Then Lord Maxwell exclaimed, "I say--" Prudence looked at him, a smile lurking about her lips and in her eyes. "You're always laughing at me, Miss Ffolliott," he said, but his manner showed that the fact did not make him miserable. "What were you going to say?" she inquired. "Only that it isn't a bad hotel over yonder where I'm stopping, and if you'd let me come here and call now and then, I'd stay there a week or two. Is this your Aunt Ffolliott's place that you told me about,--that you called one of your homes?" "Yes." "Would she permit me to call?" "Certainly. Any friend of mine would be welcome," with a little air of _hauteur_ and distance. "Oh, thanks. And now I suppose I must go." He rose and looked down at her, as if he were hoping she would tell him not to go so soon. But she said nothing. "I suppose you wheel?" glancing at her dress. "Yes, of course." "I might have known you would; so do I. Perhaps you'll let me take a spin with you?" "Perhaps." "And you like sailing as well as ever?" "Yes." "Then I hope you'll go out in this bit of a boat of mine; she's a real fine one; and I like something I can manage all myself, so I got a small one. You'll try her?" "Perhaps." "You don't seem very eager." "Don't I?" "No. And we're old friends, aren't we?" He asked the question with a wistful frankness. Before she could answer it, he went on in some haste: "I never knew whether to believe you really when you told me you forgave me. You said you understood precisely how I was situated, and that you didn't blame me, for you might have done the same thing. Do you remember?" "Oh, yes, I remember all about everything. And I do forgive you." "I'm so glad! And we are friends?" "Yes, we are friends."