“I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” I said; “but now let us talk some more about the stars.”

“Oh, bother the stars!” said she.  “But I will drop the subject of gratitude as soon as I have said that if you ever come to know me better than you do now, you will know that in regard to such things I am the right kind of a girl.”

I had not the slightest doubt that she was entirely correct.  And then she began to talk about golf, and after that of croquet.

“I consider that the finest out-door game we have,” she said, “because there is more science in it than you find in any of the others.  Your brains must work when you play croquet with intelligent opponents.”

“The great trouble about it is,” I said, “that it is often so easy.”

“But you can get rid of that objection,” she replied, “if you have a bad ground.  Croquet needs hazards just as much as golf does.  The finest games I have ever seen were played on a bad ground.”

So we talked and walked until some of the lights in the upper windows of the house had gone out.  We ascended to the porch, and just before entering the front door she turned to me.

“I wish I could go to sleep to-night with the same right to feel proud, self-confident, superior, that you have.  Good-night.”  And she held out her hand and gave mine a strong, hearty shake.

I smiled as she left me standing on the porch.  This was the same spot on which her sister Genevieve had felt my muscle.  “This is an appreciative family,” I said, and, guided by the sound of voices, I found Mr. Larramie and his son Walter in the billiard-room.

CHAPTER XII

BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG

Before going to bed that night I did not throw myself into an easy-chair and gaze musingly out into the night.  On the contrary, I stood up sturdily with my back to the mantel-piece, and with the forefinger of my right hand I tapped my left palm.

“Now, then,” said I to myself, “as soon as my bicycle is put into working order I shall imitate travellers in hot countries—­I shall ride all night, and I shall rest all day.  There are too many young women in Cathay.  They turn up one after another with the regularity of a continuous performance.  No sooner is the curtain rung down on one act than it is rung up on another.  Perhaps after a while I may get out of Cathay, and then again I may ride by day.”

In taking my things from my valise, I pulled out the little box which the doctor’s daughter had given me, but I did not open it.  “No,” said I, “there is no need whatever that I should take a capsule to-night.”

[Illustration:  “I tapped my left palm.”]

After breakfast the next day Mr. Larramie came to me.  “Do you know,” said he, “I feel ashamed on account of the plans I made for you.”

I did not know, for I could see no earthly reason for such feeling.