The quality of their friendship was clear in the simplicity with which he made the suggestion, and the absence of self-consciousness with which she heard it made. "I should love it!" she said. "Then come along. You've nothing to keep you here; the country's just what you need." She did not answer at once, but stood looking away from him, a little frown between her eyes. She was thinking how absurd it would be to object, and how equally absurd it seemed to say yes. It _was_ so nice to have some one think of her as he thought of himself, simply, normally, humanly, as Dick Ayling seemed to have thought of her from the first. Then abruptly she accepted his simplification. "I'll go," she said. "Good! I'll telephone through for a room for you.... When can you be ready?" he asked. "To-day--this afternoon. Let's get away before I discover all the reasons to prevent! I won't bother about a lot of luggage--my big bag will do." "Great! I'll ask about trains." All at once, like two children, they became immensely exhilarated at the prospect before them--a week's holiday! He went to the telephone and presently reported: "There's a train at two-forty. Can you make it by then?" She looked at the clock on the mantel. "We'll make it," she said. He was getting into his coat. "I'll go on to the club, get my things together, and come back for you at two-fifteen, then." He rushed away, both of them almost forgetting to say good-by, and she went into her bedroom to pack. When, promptly at two-fifteen, he rang her bell, she was waiting, hat and gloves on, and called out, "All ready!" as the taxi-driver followed Ayling up for her bag.... * * * * * The spring had come up to meet them at Homebury St. Mary. So Bessie Lonsdale said to herself when she woke in her old-fashioned chintz-curtained room. The sun shone in at the windows, the air was balmy and sweet, and lifting herself on her elbow, she saw in a little round swale in the garden outside a faint showing of green nestled into the damp brown earth. She got up, rang for a maid, who came, smiling, white-capped, rosy-cheeked. She had coffee and rolls with rich country cream while she dressed. Her room opened directly into the garden, and she put on stout boots and a walking-suit and a soft little hat of green felt, and went out. Ayling, who had evidently risen early, was coming toward her, swinging a great, freshly whittled staff cut from the woods beyond the inn. He called to her: "You see! The sun _does_ shine at Homebury St. Mary!" And then, as if in gratitude for so glorious a day, he wished to be fair to the rest of the world, he added, as he came up, "I wonder if it's shining in London, too." "London?" she said. "London? There's no such place!" "Glad you came?" he asked. "Glad!" Her tone was enough. "That's a jolly green hat," he said, and made her a little bow. "Glad you like it," she laughed. "And that's a jolly staff."