"Yes, boy-scout. Round to the left here. That's right. Only three more miles. This is Dilberry Farm." "Dilberry! Why, that's--" "Where you're staying?" I gulped, and laid the whip over the mare's shoulders. "No," I said doggedly, "it's not." She laid two firm little hands on my left and pulled the mare up. "Anything the matter?" said I. "Say 'good-bye' like a good boy-scout and thank the kind lady for giving you a lift, and then run along home," she said sweetly. "What are we stopping for?" I said. "You can't get a good view from here to-day. It's too hazy." "Go on." "But, Circe--" "Be quick. I'm awfully cold." "Won't you come in and get warm before you go on, or borrow another rug, or--" "No, thanks awfully, I must get home." "Mayn't I see you there? I can easily walk back." "No, thanks awfully, boy-scout." "You mean it?" "I do." "I gave her the reins and got heavily out of the dog-cart. She moved on to the seat I had vacated and I put the rug carefully round her feet. Suddenly I remembered. "Stop," I said. "Let me get some matches. At least your lamps shall be lighted." Not a bit of it. Said she didn't want them lighted. Simply wouldn't have it. While I was speaking, my fingers had mechanically strayed to the ticket pocket of my coat, where I sometimes carry my matches loose. "By George!" I said. "What is it?" "I've just found a bit of a match--with the head on." "Oh, boy-scout, and you've had it all the time." "Yes, but it wouldn't be enough to light the lamps with." "Oh!" "Not the lamps." "What would it be enough for?" "A face, Circe." "Good-bye." "Stop, Circe. Two faces." "How?" "Well, I'll strike it on the tire, and then hold it between us. "All right." "It'll only last a second--it's not a quarter of an inch long. You'll have to bend down." "Go on." "Nerve yourself for the shock, Circe. Think you can stand it?" "I'll try. Keep your back to the mare." "Thank you." I heard her lean over and struck the match on the tire, I raised it cautiously, sheltering it with my hands. Just as I was about to raise my eyes: "Thank you," she said, very softly, and blew it out. I laid my hands on her shoulders. "I won't say 'damn,'" I said. "I'll say 'good-bye' instead, like--like a good boy-scout." "Say it then." I said it. "Oh, but that isn't--" "Yes," I said. "It's a new rule." When the clatter of the mare's hoofs had died away in the distance, I walked slowly up to the farm. I was quite sure about the ear-rings this time. At least, about the one in her left ear. "Ah," said Daphne, as I entered the room, "where have you been all this time?" All things considered, I thought that was rather good. "I don't think I've been into Cornwall," I said, "but I've done Devon pretty thoroughly." "We went back for you." "Ah!" "Why do you say 'Ah!'?" "Oh, I don't know. Didn't see anything of a ram, did you?" I added carelessly. There was a pause.