She was altogether too wonderful, that was the trouble. A girl like her had no place in our lives. I went out for a walk and a smoke by the bluff edge; and, almost before I knew it, I found myself standing at the border of the grove, looking at the great house and trying to guess which was her room and if she was there and of what or whom she might be thinking just then. “Mark my words, son,” Captain Jed had declared, “the feller that plays with fire takes chances.” I turned on my heel and set out for home. I would take no chances. I must not play with fire, even though the flames had, for the moment, dazzled me. I had called myself a fool many times in the past few years, but I would not be so great a fool as that. CHAPTER XV So I resolved, more resolutely than ever, to keep out of her way, to see as little of her as possible! and, as had happened before to similar resolutions of mine with which she was concerned, this one was rendered non-effective, through no fault of my own, almost as soon as it was made. For on Saturday afternoon, as I approached the Colton wharf, laden with bait and rods for the fishing excursion in the Colton boat, I saw her standing there beside her father, waiting for me. “We've got a passenger, Paine,” said “Big Jim.” “You've met her before, I believe--on the water and in it. No objections to my daughter's going along, have you?” What could I say; except to announce delight at the addition to our party? Perhaps I did not say it as heartily as I might, for, Miss Colton, who was regarding me with a mischievous smile, observed demurely: “I am sure he must be delighted, Father. Mr. Paine knows I am very fond of fishing; don't you, Mr. Paine?” “Yes; oh, yes, of course,” I stammered. “He does, eh!” Her father seemed surprised. “How did he find that out?” I thought the question was addressed to her, so I did not answer. She seemed to think otherwise, for she said: “Did you hear, Mr. Paine? Father asks how you knew I was fond of fishing.” “Why--er--you told me so, Miss Colton,” I replied. If she had not related her Seabury Pond experience to her parents I did not propose to be trapped into doing so. She laughed merrily. “Did I?” she asked. “Yes, I believe I did.” Mr. Colton looked at us, each in turn. “Humph!” he observed; “I don't seem to be aboard this train. What's the joke?” She saved me the problem of inventing a satisfactory answer. “Oh, it's a little joke of Mr. Paine's and my own,” she explained. “I'll tell you about it by and by, Father. It would take too long to tell now. He saved my life once more, that's all.” “Oh! that's all! Humph! And you did not think a trifle like that worth mentioning to me, I suppose. Would you mind telling me what it was he saved you from this time?”