She glanced up for an instant. "Did he know you were coming out here to me?" she asked. "He did." There was a queer note of dry exultation in Max's reply. "Oh, Max!" Her head went back to its resting-place. "He thought I didn't like you, you know. What--what did he say?" "He told me I was a fool," said Max. Olga laughed. "Dear Dad! I suppose he thought you were wasting your time over a wild goose chase." "Yes; he didn't anticipate my catching my wild goose, I admit. Kersley on the other hand was so confident that he practically hoofed me out of England. He wants a married partner, you know, so perhaps he was not altogether disinterested." Again the complacent note sounded in Max's voice. Olga's fingers closed tightly on his hand. "Is that why you are so anxious to get married?" she asked, in a muffled voice. Max's fingers responded so swiftly and so mercilessly that she cried out with the pain. "Max! How brutal!" "You deserved it," said Max without compunction. "But I didn't! I only asked a simple question," she protested. "No, you didn't; it was a compound one." He opened his hand and sternly regarded the crushed fingers. "If you develop claws, Olga," he said, "you must expect trouble." She laughed again. "It isn't a question of developing: they're there--full-grown. Do you remember that day I stabbed you with my darning-needle?" "I do," said Max. He turned his hand over and showed her a small white scar on the back. "I suppose you never realized that that was the beginning of everything?" "It wasn't with me!" declared Olga. "I could have slain you that night!" "Because I told you you ought to be whipped," said Max. "It was quite true, you know. Dr. Jim would have said the same. He would probably have done it too." "I'm sure he wouldn't!" Olga lay back in the hammock with the scarred hand between her own. "Dad is very just. He would have realized that you were quite insufferable." "That wouldn't have justified you, my child," maintained Max. She snapped her fingers at him. "I'd do it again to-day if you were as horrid as you were then." "Not you!" said Max. She opened her eyes. "You think I wouldn't dare?" He looked back at her with composure. "It is more a matter of caring than daring, my dear," he said. "Your heart wouldn't be in it. But you are afraid of me all the same." She coloured and turned the subject. "When is Sir Kersley going to make you his partner?" "Directly I return," said Max. "And when will that be?" He considered a moment. "I expect to reach England in a month from now." "Max!" She sat up again quickly. "Oh, you're not going so soon!" she said. He put his arm round her shoulders. "But you will be coming back yourself in April. Nick told me so." "In April! But that's aeons away!" protested Olga.