"She'll whoop for you at any time; proud to," continued Hollis. "Well, after the song was over, Mother Drone she sat back in her chair, and she loosened her cap-strings on the sly. Says she: 'I hope the girls won't see me doing this, Mr. Hollis; they think tarlatan strings tied under the chin for a widow are so sweet. I told them I'd been a widow fifteen years without 'em; but they say, now they've grown up, I ought to have strings for their sakes, and be more prominent. Is Idora out on the steps with Wolf Roth? Would you mind peeking?' So I peeked. But Wolf Roth was there alone. 'He don't look dangerous,' I remarked, when I'd loped back. Says she: 'He'd oughter, then. And he would, too, if he knew it was me he sees when he comes serenading. I tap the girls on the shoulder: 'Girls? Wolf Roth and his guitar!' But you might as well tap the seven sleepers! So I have to cough, and I have to glimp, and Wolf Roth--he little thinks it's ma'am!" "Oh, what is glimp?" said Cicely, still laughing. "It's showing a light through the blinds, very faint and shy," answered Hollis. _"'Thou know'st the mask of night is on me face,_ _Else would a maid-en blush bepaint me cheek,'"_ he quoted, gravely. "That's about the size of it, I guess." Having drawn the last smile from Cicely, he went off to his tent, and presently he and the judge started for the nearest trout-brook together. Paul came up from the beach. "There's an Indian village two miles above here, Cicely; do you care to have a look at it? I could take you and Miss Bruce in the little canoe." But Cicely was tired: often now, after a sudden fit of merriment (which seemed to be a return, though infinitely fainter, of her old wild moods), she would look exhausted. "I think I will swing in the hammock," she said. "Will you go, then, Miss Bruce?" Paul asked, carelessly. "Thanks; I have something to do." Half an hour later, Paul having gone off by himself, she was sitting on a fallen tree on the shore, at some distance from the tents, when his canoe glided suddenly into view, coming round a near point; he beached it and sprang ashore. "You surely have not had time to go to that village?" she said, rising. "Did I say I was going alone? Apparently what you had to do was not so very important," he added, smiling. "Yes, I was occupied," she answered. "We can go still, if you like; there is time." "Thank you;--no." Paul gave her a look. She fancied that she saw in it regret. "Is it very curious--your village? Perhaps it would be amusing, after all."