“It is not probable that Mr. Travers will ever ask me to be his wife. If he does I shall accept him and try to be to him all even you could wish me to be, and—Tom—” she hesitated, while the tears began to fill her eyes—“and, Tom, don’t throw obstacles in my way. You will get Rena and be happy. She does not want Mr. Travers. If she did I believe she could get him. She wants you. Take her and let me be happy, too. I have not much that is pleasant in my home life. You know I haven’t.” She was a good deal agitated, and Tom was not proof against the pathetic look in her eyes. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I shall let Rex paddle his own canoe after he knows which canoe he is in, but I shall tell him the truth when I come back. And now I must be going. It is getting toward noon, and I must find Rena.” Bidding her good-by, he walked rapidly away in the direction of the pine-grove, where he found Rena with the mirror in her hand. “Upon my word,” he thought, “I believe she is going to look in the well. I wish I could hide and steal up behind her.” He couldn’t do this, for Rena saw him nearly as soon as he saw her and involuntarily dropped the mirror as she went forward to meet him. “I’ve caught you,” he said, passing his arm around her. “You were about to look into the well. Go ahead, and if you see anybody or don’t, I’ll take a hand after you.” “O Tom!” Rena cried, trying to extricate herself from him. “I was going to take a peep in the well, the day is so fine, and the sun so bright. Just for fun, you know. I don’t believe a thing in it. And now you’ve spoiled everything.” “No, I haven’t,” Tom answered. “I tell you go ahead, and when you are through I’ll try my luck. Hurry up! You’ve only a minute before noon, and you ought to be there now working yourself into a proper frame of mind to receive the spectre. Be sure you don’t fall in.” He had released her, and was holding his watch in one hand, while with the other he picked up the mirror, wiped a speck of dirt from it, and handed it to her. She took it rather reluctantly and said: “Do you think you ought to be here?” “Certainly,” he answered. “Wouldn’t it be rather uncanny for you to be alone when a man’s face comes staring at you in the mirror—Rex’s, for instance.” “Tom!” was Rena’s only answer, as she stepped upon the stone projecting over the well. “See that you don’t fall when he comes,” Tom said. “You have just ten seconds before he ought to be starting. Shall I count?” He began counting very deliberately and loudly, while Rena held her breath wishing he would stop. He did stop just as the village bell began to strike the hour of noon. “Now for it,” he said. “Look close; don’t miss him. Do you see him yet? I believe I hear a rustling in the air.” Rena did not reply, and after a moment Tom called again. “Time he was there unless you are to be an old maid.” “Tom Giles, will you stop!” Rena exclaimed, “How can I keep in a proper frame of mind if you go on like that?”