Pauline received her smilingly; Ash frowned a little. He frowned not at his mother--she was always welcome; he frowned at her persistence in standing so near Pauline, in dogging her steps. Mrs. Ash kept this up; she sat near Pauline at lunch; she followed her when she strolled down to the beach; she gathered flowers for her; in her India shawl and Paris bonnet she hovered constantly near. Only once did John Ash find opportunity to speak to Pauline alone. The boys had at last carried off Griff by force to their camp; Griff was willing enough to go, the "force" applied to the intellectual effort necessary on the boys' part to detach him from a lady who wished to keep him by her side. They had all been strolling up and down in the shade of the so-called Basilica, amid the fern and acanthus. Left alone with her son and Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Ash, after remaining with them a few moments, turned aside, and entering the temple, sat down there. She was out of hearing, but still near. "Ride with me to-morrow, Pauline," Ash said, immediately. "I have not had a chance to speak to you before. Don't refuse." "I am afraid I must. I have an engagement." "With Carew?" "Yes." "What is it?" "I am very good-natured to tell you. I am going to Naples with him for the day." "You are going-- Damnation!" "You forget yourself," said Pauline. Then, when she saw the look on his face--the face of this man with whom she had played--she was startled. "Forget myself! I wish I could. You shall not go to Naples." "And how can you prevent it?" "Are you daring me?" "By no means," answered Pauline; and this time she really tried to speak gently. "I was calling to your remembrance the fact that there is no tie between us, Mr. Ash; you have no shadow of authority over my actions; I am free to do as I please." "I know you are; that is the worst of it," he said, almost with a groan. "Pauline, don't play with me now. I have given up hoping for anything for myself--if I ever really did hope; I am not worthy of you. Whether you could make me worthy I don't know; but I don't ask you that; I don't ask you to try; it would be too much. I only ask you to be as you have been; as you were, I mean, during all those many weeks, not as you have been lately. Only a few days are left when I can see you freely; be kind to me, then, during those few days, and then I will take myself off." "I mean to be kind; I am kind." "Then ride with me to-morrow; just this once more." "But I told you it was impossible; I told you I was going to Naples." The pleading vanished from Ash's face and voice. "_I_ never asked you to do that--to go off with me for a whole day." Pauline did not answer; she was arranging the flowers which Mrs. Ash had industriously gathered. "So much the greater fool I!--is that what you are thinking?" Ash went on, laughing discordantly.