She did not deign to answer, so I closed my camera and climbed
the rock to her side.
" Is is your brother about ?" she asked, with her eyes look
ing over my shoulder and far beyond me.
"My brother ?" I repeated, blankly.
" Yes," she continued, hurriedly. "I— we borrowed his
basket yesterday—he said he would be here to get it this morn-
" Oh," I said, " I gave you the lunch. The basket is mine."
" But you're not the fellow who was here yesterday, are you ?"
" The same," said I, " didn't you recognize me?"
" How should I, Mr. Walden ?" said she, glancing down at my
natty outing suit and smiling for the first time..
" To be sure " I said, I had forgotten that I had put on a suit
of my own that morning.
An embarrassing pause ensued
" I'm afraid you'll think I acted very rudely yesterday," she
began, after a moment. "And I've felt so sorry about it since
that I must make some apology for it."
" Don't," I said, with a deprecating gesture. "It was all my
fault, and I deserved it. In fact, I'm very glad it did happen,
for it has given a lively turn to affairs that I had not thought
possible in such a secluded spot. I'm certain that life in this
place will be more endurable hereafter."
She blushed charmingly. " You are staying here, then ?"
she inquired.
" At my uncle's, over there across the lake," I said, smiling.
" And you?"
" Oh, we are camping yonder, just beyond that thicket of
pines."
I could scarcely conceal my delight at her words.
" And when do you receive visitors, Miss —." I paused,
waiting expectantly. It was a bold stroke, but it failed.
" Oh, we're informal. At any time,',' she replied, with another
dazzling smile. "Do come to see us 'soon," she said, as she
moved away.
" But whom shall I ask to see," I said, " when I do call ?"
was determined to know her name, •
" I'll be waiting for you," she said. " Goodbye."
That evening, of course, found me down at their camp, and true
to her promise she was the first to greet me as I came up.
HER BROTHER'S SISTER