"I am out of doors a great deal, and you may go with me often, if you wish. I enjoyed having you to-day." This was said just as seriously as my question had been put. Then, in one of those rare changes of which her nature was capable, she added: "You know I need a protector in my various rambles, and you shall be my esquire when I go forth in state to see my flower subjects scattered all over the farm. My knight-errant, too, to espouse my cause should snake, or dog, or an enraged animal of the pastures seek to do me harm." "Gladly, your majesty," I answered gallantly, falling into the spirit which her words betokened, and bowing low. "Behold your vassal; command me when you will." A whispered "good-night," a faint echo of that enchanting laugh, and she had slipped through the door and was gone. I did not tarry long, for the beauty of the night had suddenly paled. Everything had grown darker, and, by habit, I thought of my easy-chair and pipe, and went in also. Salome was standing at the farther end of the long, broad hall, with a lighted candle in her hand. Her hat had been removed, and her tangled hair was half down. The riding habit had also disappeared, and she was robed in some sort of a loose house gown which fell away into a train. Her back was towards me, and she had one foot on the first step of the curved stairway which went up from that point. She heard me turn the key in the lock, and looked back. I went towards her; why, I do not know. She waited until I had come quite close. "I haven't anything very particular to say," I began, I fear very confusedly. But my foolish feet had led me to her, obedient to the dictates of a foolish mind, and I had to speak first. "I have been in mother's room," she answered, opening her eyes very wide, as a child does when it hears a sound in the dark. "I went for this wrapper, and would you believe it, I did not waken either of them! Mother sleeps very lightly, too!" "You have performed quite a feat," I assured her, at once put at ease by her genuineness. "Have you planned anything for to-morrow?" "Father has some sheep on the lower farm that are sick, and I am going to take them some salt, because that is good for their blood." "May I help you salt the sheep? I'll carry the salt, if you will let me go." She turned her head sideways, with a slight uplifting of the brows, as though hesitating. "Ye-e-e-s, I guess so," she replied at last, doubtfully. "Do you know anything about sheep?" "Nothing more than I have read. They are very docile, I believe, and a great many of our clothes come from their backs." "But that isn't all." There was the wisdom of Solomon on the fresh young face, shadowed by disarranged tresses. "Some of them have horns, like a cow, only they grow back instead of out. And they'll run you sometimes, when they take a notion. Can you run, Mr. Stone?"