"Yes, I know the old lady feels the heat." "We are quite busy at the house. I came of an errand to the quartermaster-sergeant's, and kitty followed me, and the children chased her. I must go home now," urged Meta. "Really, I did not think you would be so foolish, Henniker. I can't see what fun there is in this!" "Yes, but Meta, I've made a discovery,--here in your hand." "In my hand? What is it? Let me see." A violent determined pull, and a sound like a smothered explosion of laughter from Henniker. "Softly, softly now. You'll hurt yourself, my dear." "Is my hand dirty? It was the kitten, then; her paws were all over sand." "Oh, no. Great sign! It's worse than that. It'll not come off." "I _will_ see what it is!" "But you can't see unless I was to tell you. I'm a hand reader, did you know it? I can tell your fortune by the lines on your palm. I'm reading them off here just like a book." "Good gracious! what do you see?" "Why, it's a most extraordinary thing! Your head line is that mixed up with your heart line, 'pon me word I can't tell which is which. Which is it, Meta? Do you choose your friends with your head entirely, or is it the other way with you, dear?" "Oh, is that all? I thought you could tell fortunes really. I don't care what I _am_; I want to know what I'm going to _do_. Don't you see anything that's going to happen to me?" "Lots of things. I see something that's going to happen to you right now. I wonder did it ever happen to you before?" "What is it? When is it coming?" "It has come. I will put it right here in your hand. But I shall want it back again, remember; and don't be giving it away, now, to anybody else." A mysterious pause. Meta felt a breath upon her wrist, and a kiss from a mustached lip was pressed into the hollow of her hand. "Keep that till I ask you for it," said Henniker quite sternly, and closed her hand tight with his own. The hand became an expressive little fist. "I think you are just as mean and silly as you can be! I'll never believe a word you say again." "Pussy," remarked Henniker, in a mournful aside, "go ask your mistress will she please forgive me. Tell her I'm not exactly sorry, but I couldn't help it. Faith, I couldn't." "I'm not her mistress," said Meta. It was a keen reminder, but Henniker did not seem to feel it much. "Go tell Meta," he corrected. "Ask her please to forgive me, and I'll take it back,--the kiss, I mean." "I'm going now," said Meta. "Keep the kitten, if you want her. She isn't mine, anyway." But now the kitten was softly crowded through the fence by Henniker, and Meta, relenting, gathered her into her arms and carried her home.