Alexis regarded her ecstatically. "They match your hair exactly. But alas, I am not Jupiter. I cannot pour myself upon you in a golden rain." His eyes met hers with a new audacity. "But I'll dissolve into tears, which will amount to the same thing, if you look at me like that!" he added hastily. Anne hated herself for flushing. She averted her head. "You absurd boy! Come, we must hurry, or Regina's lunch will be spoiled. It's so nice and warm today, she promised to serve it on the porch. Won't that be jolly? It's supposed to be a great surprise, but I suspect a risotto à la Milanese." She led the way to the house. A puzzled frown between his straight brows, Alexis followed. "You are in a great hurry," he said, in hurt tones. "You forget the baby is still learning to walk!" His voice was plaintive in the extreme. She turned about in quick repentance. His laughing eyes were roguish. "Changeling!" she murmured. She disdained the arm he held out in feigned weakness. "What shall I do with you, you are incorrigible!" There was a note of triumph in his laugh. Taking her arm masterfully in his, he looked down upon her teasingly. "The lady lion-tamer mustn't mind a scratch or two, especially in the beginning, before the animals learn how to behave nicely." He mocked, but the light in his eyes was tender. Annoyed and amused, Anne laughed in spite of herself. "Touchée," she admitted gaily, "I see the cub is developing teeth and a mane, and I'd better look out for myself." Alexis tightened her arm against his side. He emitted a low, but ferocious growl. With a laugh and a delicate shiver, she freed herself deftly and ran up the cottage steps. "Why, lunch isn't ready after all----" she commenced, and then stopped short, for finger on lips, like a sibyl, Regina stood in the doorway and pointed mysteriously towards the end of the porch. Astonished and amused, Anne's eyes followed the melodramatic finger. At the end of the verandah sat a small limp figure. What a bore, who could it possibly be? She had not given her address to a soul, and not even her mail was being forwarded. Couldn't people ever leave one alone? But she moved forward graciously as usual. The small figure rose at her approach. A pale face, a pair of enormous haunted eyes, confronted Anne. An inexplicable spasm contracted Anne's heart. She concealed sudden apprehension beneath a formal nod, and waited for the other to speak. The girl commenced timidly. "Is this Mrs. Schuyler?" she inquired in a low, uneven voice. The soft brown eyes met Anne's. "I came to----" then she stopped short, with a breathless gasp. Her glance had swept beyond Anne and lighted upon Alexis, just as he stepped on to the porch. A sudden flush beautified the wan little face. "Alexis!" she cried and brushed past Anne tempestuously. "Alexis," she repeated. "I had to come. Please forgive me!" "Claire!" Alexis gazed at her stormily.