"Well, sir," said Miss Stirling, after a moment's silence, "what can I do for you--or, rather, what can I do with you?" "Treat me just faintly nice." "Oh," she said, looking at him through half-closed eyes, "is that it; humble, this morning!" "Yes, humble, grovelling, anything to win your favor." She turned, and they passed slowly among the flowers. "Is humbleness the way to win a woman's favor?" she asked. "I do not know. It seems to me the proper way--or, if not proper, the more expedient way. Perchance, you will tell me." A faint smile crossed her lips. "I?" she said. "I can tell you nothing. My favor is not for your winning, Mr. Herford, nor for any one's else in the Colony." She stopped, and plucked a rose. "Come, come, sir, be sensible! Why cannot you be alone with me without thinking of favor or love? Enjoy the morning, and the flowers, and these beautiful gardens, sweeping away to the Severn, and the golden Severn itself, or the silver Severn, whichever way you will have it; I am not particular." "Do you mean," he said, with a laugh, "that I should go down and throw myself off the dock?" "No, nothing quite so bad as that; you know what I mean. Now, come along, and not another word on the forbidden subject. Here!" and gave him the rose. "A thousand thanks!" he said, and kissed her hand. "Sir Edward Parkington is a very handsome man," she observed, presently; "don't you think so?" "I am willing to accept your judgment on him." "But what is your own judgment?" "I have not any. I do not know Sir Edward Parkington." "And have not seen him?" He shook his head. "Nor ever heard of him," he said. "Is it possible that you blades of the Coffee-house must come to a woman to learn the last gossip--and him a Sir?" "It would seem so," he answered. "Who is this Sir Edward Parkington, and from where?" "From London--come to Annapolis with letters to his Excellency and to Mr. Dulany. A very elegant gentleman, indeed." "To have gained your favor, he must have been all that." "Oh!" she said, "I just saw him for a moment, but it was quite sufficient." "I wonder," he said, watching her narrowly, "I wonder if he has a wife?" She laughed, gaily. "Meaning that, if he had not, I might be his lady?" Herford bowed. "Since it may not be in the Colony, best back to London for the Colony's own good." "Are you not a bit premature? Sir Edward may be married, and, even if he is not, I may not suit him for a wife." "I was assuming him to be a man of taste; of 'the high kick of fashion' in all things." "And so he is. I saw him only cross the lawn, to where Colonel Sharpe was standing, but such ease and grace I never have seen exceeded--even your Mr. Dulany appeared awkward, by comparison." "Sometime, I hope to meet him and acquire a bit of polish," he said, with a laugh in which good nature was just touched with scorn. "Meanwhile, it were just as well to be a good soldier and retire." "Not going, Captain Herford."