Her low black shoes with their big silk bows tied pertly below her trim ankles were a goodly sight to see against the green grass as he might have observed had he looked at them at all. But he did n't. He wiped his moist forehead as though, instead of a dainty armful, she had been a burden. She shook the wrinkles from her skirt and looked up at him laughing. Then she frowned. "Mr. Donaldson," she scolded, "you walked across there with your shoes and stockings on." "Why, that's so," he exclaimed, looking down at his water-logged shoes as though in as great surprise as she herself. "What are you going to do about it?" "I don't know," he answered helplessly. "You ought to spread them out in the sun to dry." "You can't spread out shoes, can you? Besides we have n't time. We must hurry right on. Right on, this minute," he added as the motherly concern in her face set his throat to aching again. With the stride of a pioneer he led off, praying that they might not find in their path another brook. For a stretch of a mile, he pressed on without once looking around, taking a faster pace than he realized. The course was a fairly smooth one over an acre or so of pasture, through a strip of oak woods, and up a stiff slope. It was not until he reached the top of this that he paused. He looked around and saw her about halfway up the hill, climbing heavily, her eyes upon the ground. Even as he watched her, he saw her sway, catch herself, and push on again without even looking up. It was the act of a woman almost exhausted. He reached her side in a couple of strides. He tried to take her arm but she broke free of him and in a final spurt reached the top of the hill and threw herself upon the ground to catch her breath. "I did n't realize how fast I was going," he apologized kneeling by her side. "That was unpardonable, but why did n't you call to me?" She removed her hat. Then she leaned back upon her hands until she could speak evenly. A light breeze loosened a brown curl and played with it. "Why did n't you call to me?" "Because I wished to keep pace with you." He turned away from her. "When you are rested we will start again," he said. "Are you ready?" she asked. He nodded. "Then I am ready." "You will take my arm?" "No," she answered. "Then you must keep by my side where I can watch you." They took the remaining distance in more leisurely fashion, now realizing that they were nearing the outskirts of this fairy kingdom. With this thought he relaxed a little and instantly the sun and burgeoning nature claimed him, making light of every problem save the supreme one of bringing together a man and his mate.