Jack’s persistence in making intimate and affectionate remarks served apparently to discompose Betty at times, although more than once she was conscious of having feigned annoyance. But now she turned quickly and started toward the house. Jack leaped forward and caught her by the wrist. “Don’t be prudish,” he pleaded. “But you say such disrespectful things to me,” pouted Betty. “I didn’t mean to; please forgive me.” Betty yielded and they started off again over the hills at a brisk pace. “Let’s run a race,” suggested Betty. “All right, we’ll start at the foot of the hill, and race to the second big tree.” “May I have a handicap?” asked Betty. “Yes, to the little rock just there,” said Jack, pointing to a stone a few feet away. “Oh, that isn’t enough,” grumbled Betty. “It’s all you can have,” answered Jack in his usual decided manner. “Don’t start until I say three. One--two--three.” They were off. Betty sprang up the hill like a deer. Jack gradually overtook her, but when she heard him gaining on her, she summoned all of her remaining strength and fairly leapt over the ground. Jack pulled ahead and won by only a few paces--and he had done his best. She backed to the tree for support while Jack threw himself to the ground. “Ah, you’re all out of breath.” “Not a bit of it,” answered Jack, jumping to his feet. “Why are--are you using the tree for a prop?” “But I didn’t fall down and I’m not out of breath.” Jack moved to her side, drew her arm through his, and said, “Come on, little boy, you did very well, and I love you against that tree.” “I believe I shall stay by the tree,” she added wickedly, glancing into Jack’s face to see if he caught the significance of her words. Quick as a flash he answered, “The tree isn’t necessary. It is the same anywhere.” A flash of deep scarlet rose to Betty’s cheeks, as she realized that, for the first time in her acquaintance with Jack, she had deliberately invited his advances. And though a feeling of joy surged through her being at the thought of it, she was conscious of a deep sense of shame on realizing that she, who had always esteemed herself above such practices, had not only allowed another than her husband to make open advances to her, but had even encouraged him to do so. “Please will you tell me the time?” she asked, with eyes averted. “Just ten minutes after eight.” “We must be hurrying along,” she said, quickening her step, “breakfast will be served, and besides we’re very bad.” “Bad,” repeated Jack, “why bad?” “Because it is bad for us to be speaking this way to each other--I’m deceiving Walter--I didn’t mean to say what I said.”