She forced a faint smile. "It's just my mother's old shawl," she replied. "Want me to help you find your flowers?" he asked. "If you wish to," she answered, "but it isn't discourteous to like to be alone sometimes, is it, Mr. Carder? You were saying at dinner that I looked tired. I really don't feel very well. I thought I would like to roam about alone a while in the sunshine." Her gentle humility brought forth a loud: "Oh, of course, of course, that's all right. Suit yourself and you'll suit me. Just find some roses for your own cheeks while you're about it, that's all I ask." "I'll try," she answered, and walked on. Carder accompanied her as far as his office, where he paused. "Good-bye, bless your little sweet heart," he said, low and ardently, in the tone that always seemed to make the girl's very soul turn over. "Good-bye," she answered, without meeting the hunger of his oblique gaze; and crossing the driveway she forced herself to move slowly down the grassy incline that led to the meadow where a number of cows were grazing. Carder watched longingly her graceful, white figure crowned with gold. She was safe enough in the meadow. Even if she desired to go out of bounds, she would not invade any public way, hatless, and in clinging white crepe. The cows were excellent chaperones. Nevertheless--he snapped his fingers and Pete came out from behind the office. Carder did not speak, but pointed after the white figure, and Pete, again dragging the mower, ambled across the driveway and followed on down the slope. Geraldine heard the clicking and glanced around, sure of what she should see. She smiled a little and shook her head as she walked on. "Poor little Pete. Good little Pete," she murmured. "I owe him every moment of comfort I've known in this place." When she considered that she had gone far enough to be free from observation, she turned to let him catch up with her; but when she paused he did likewise and waited immovable. "I want to talk to you, Pete. I'm so glad of the chance. I'm so thankful to you," she called softly. The dwarf drank in the delicate radiance of her face with adoring eyes. "Go on," he replied. "He is watching. He is always watching. You look like an angel, but the devil is at the window. Go on." She turned back obediently and continued down the slope. When she reached the soft, spongy green of the meadow, the cows regarded her wonderingly. Pete began mowing the long grass on the edge, working so slowly that the sound did not mar the hush of the place; and sometimes he sank down at ease and pulled apart a jointed stem, his eyes feasting on his charge. The cows had scorned certain blooms which grew lavishly and which Geraldine waited to gather until it should be time to return. Near a large clump of hazel-bushes she found a low rock, and she stretched out there in the sunshine and quiet, and tried to think.