"We will row up to the bridge, and walk back to the house, if you, Maurice, will take the boat to the little pier again." "Oh, yes," said Maurice. We came to the bridge, and Laura reached out her hand to me. "Why, dear!" she exclaimed, "you have burnt your face. Why did you," turning to Redmond, "paddle about so long in the hot sun?" Her words were light enough, but the tone of her voice was savage. Redmond looked surprised; he waved his hand deprecatingly, but said nothing. We went up toward the house, but Laura lingered behind, and did not come in till we were ready to go to supper. It was past sundown when we rose from the ruins of Mrs. Sampson's pies. We voted not to start for home till the evening was advanced, so that we might enjoy the gloom of the pine wood. We sat on the veranda and heard the sounds of approaching night. The atmosphere was like powdered gold. Swallows fluttered in the air, delaying to drop into their nests, and chirped their evening song. We heard the plunge of the little turtles in the lake, and the noisy crows as they flew home over the distant tree-tops. They grew dark, and the sky deepened slowly into a soft gray. A gentle wind arose, and wafted us the sighs of the pines and their resinous odors. I was happy, but Laura was unaccountably silent. "What is it, Laura?" I asked, in a whisper. "Nothing, Margaret,--only it seems to me that we mortals are always riding or fishing, eating or drinking, and that we never get to living. To tell you the truth, the pies were too sour. Come, we must go," she said aloud. Redmond himself brought Folly from the stable. "We will ride home together," he said. "My calm nag will suit yours better than Black. Why does your hand tremble?" He saw my shaking hands, as I took the rein; the fact was, my wrists were nearly broken. "Nothing shall happen to-night, I assure you," he continued, while he tightened Folly's girth. He contrived to be busy till all the party had disappeared down a turn of the road. As he was mounting his horse, Mrs. Sampson, who was on the steps, whispered to me,-- "He's a beautiful young man, now!" He heard her; he had the ear of a wild animal; he took off his hat to Mrs. Sampson, and we rode slowly away.