and when the afternoon was really darkening, enough to make the glow of the fires within tell in ruddy cheer upon walls and curtains, Dane left the hall door and the latest departure and went into the house to find Wych Hazel and get his "notes" paid. CHAPTER XIV. THE WORTH OF A FEATHER. The door of the red room stood open now, and the room was filled with firelight which came streaming out into the hall to usher him in. Hazel was down before the fire, sending persuasive puffs from her bellows into the very depths of the coals. 'What is left of you?' said Dane coming and taking the bellows from her hand. 'Much more than you are aware of. Have some chestnuts?—just for variety,'—and Hazel took from her pocket and poured into his hand her collection of extra specimens. Then quietly slipping from her fingers all the disguising rings she dropped them one by one into the empty pocket, until the emerald was left alone. 'Good fruit'—said Dane viewing the big chestnuts. 'I have been saving them up for you all day. You know I could not always help taking them.' 'Do you mean that people have been paying tribute to you in your own chestnuts?' 'Having nothing of their own that I would touch.' 'In the meanwhile, what besides have you touched? I want to know.' 'Never mind—we will have tea by and by. Dr. Maryland said you were to wait here for him—or for a message. Whichever came first, I suppose.' 'I am not going to wait here for him,'—said Dane, ringing the bell. 'Will this bring Dingee?' 'No,' said Hazel laughing; 'that will bring Phoebe. Dingee acknowledges nothing but my whistle.' 'Where is that?' 'Here'—touching the little gold toy at her belt. 'But you do not know how to blow it, Mr. Rollo.' Dane lifted the trinket and examined it, and then remarking that 'a whistle is a whistle,' put his lips to it and made the call sound loud and clear through the house. 'What do you want?' said Hazel laughing at him. 'Dingee will know better than to think me responsible for that. Tell me what you want, and I will obey orders—as usual.' 'Dingee will know better than to think anybody else has blown your whistle. Dingee!'—as the boy appeared,—'go and say to Mrs. Bywank, with my compliments, that your mistress has had nothing to eat all day, except chestnuts. I think she will know what to do.' Dingee took in the situation and went off with a flourish. 'Did you see John Charteris here to-day?' Hazel said suddenly. 'I think he crossed my line of vision,' said Dane carelessly. 'Well I did not ask him.' 'What then?' said Rollo looking amused at her. 'I did not want you should think that I would.' And Hazel, full of her own successful schemes in the mill business, smiled down upon the fire a whole sweet fund of triumph and delight, to which not only lips but eyes bore witness. Still looking amused, but with a great tenderness coming upon that, Rollo considered her.