"Row a little way up the lake to meet me," Paul had said. At half-past three of the afternoon he had indicated, she went to the beach; one of the Irishmen, under her direction, began to push down a canoe. The open way in which she did this--in which she had done everything since that night--was in itself an effectual disguise; no one thought it remarkable that she should be going to meet Paul. As she was about to take her place in the canoe, Hollis appeared. "Going far? We don't know much about that Paddy," he said, in an undertone. "Only to meet Paul." "If he's late, you may have to go a good way." "He won't be late." "Well, he may be," answered Hollis, patiently. "I guess I'll take you, if you'll let me; and then, when we meet, I'll come back with his man in the other canoe." "Very well," Eve responded. She did not comment upon the terms of his offer, she did not care what he thought. She took her place, and he paddled westward. It was a beautiful afternoon; a slight coolness, which made itself felt through the sunshine, showed that the short Northern summer was approaching its end. As she sat with her back to the prow, she was obliged to turn her head to look for the other canoe; and this she did many times. After one of these quests, she saw that Hollis's eyes were upon her. "Is there any change in me?" she asked, laughing. "Rather!" "What is it?" But poor Hollis did not know how to say, "You are so much more beautiful." "It's my white dress," Eve suggested, in a somewhat troubled voice. "I had it made in Port aux Pins. It's only piqué." She smoothed the folds of the skirt for a moment, doubtfully. "I guess white favors you," answered Hollis, with what he would have called a festive wave of his hand. Her mood had now changed. "It's no matter, I'm not afraid!" She was speaking her thoughts aloud, sure that he would not understand. But he did understand. The other canoe came into sight after a while, shooting round a point; Eve waved her handkerchief in answer to Paul's hail; the two boats met. "Mr. Hollis knows that you are to take me back," said Eve, as eagerly as a child. Paul glanced at Hollis. But the other man bore the look bravely. "Proud to be of service," he answered, waving his hand again, with two fingers extended lightly. He changed places with Paul; Paul and Eve, in their canoe, glided away. It was at this moment that Cicely, who had been asleep, opened her eyes. Her lodge was quiet; Mrs. Mile was reading near the window, her seat carefully placed so that the light should fall over her left shoulder upon the page. Cicely gazed at her for some time; then she jumped from the couch with a quick bound. "It's impossible to lie here another instant and see that History of Windham! The next thing, you'll be proposing to read it aloud to me; you look exactly like a woman who loves to read aloud." She began to put on her shoes.