“I want a minute with you,” said Miss Carr.

“Very well,” replied Elnora, walking on.

“Set the pitcher on the bench there,” commanded Edith Carr, as if speaking to a servant.

“I prefer not to offer my visitors a warm drink,” said Elnora.  “I’ll come back if you really wish to speak with me.”

“I came solely for that,” said Edith Carr.

“It would be a pity to travel so far in this dust and heat for nothing.  I’ll only be gone a second.”

Elnora placed the pitcher before her mother.  “Please serve this,” she said.  “Miss Carr wishes to speak with me.”

“Don’t you pay the least attention to anything she says,” cried Polly.  “Tom and I didn’t come here because we wanted to.  We only came to checkmate her.  I hoped I’d get the opportunity to say a word to you, and now she has given it to me.  I just want to tell you that she threw Phil over in perfectly horrid way.  She hasn’t any right to lay the ghost of a claim to him, has she, Tom?”

“Nary a claim,” said Tom Levering earnestly.  “Why, even you, Polly, couldn’t serve me as she did Phil, and ever get me back again.  If I were you, Miss Comstock, I’d send my mother to talk with her and I’d stay here.”

Tom had gauged Mrs. Comstock rightly.  Polly put her arms around Elnora.  “Let me go with you, dear,” she begged.

“I promised I would speak with her alone,” said Elnora, “and she must be considered.  But thank you, very much.”

“How I shall love you!” exulted Polly, giving Elnora a parting hug.

The girl slowly and gravely walked back to the willow.  She could not imagine what was coming, but she was promising herself that she would be very patient and control her temper.

“Will you be seated?” she asked politely.

Edith Carr glanced at the bench, while a shudder shook her.

“No.  I prefer to stand,” she said.  “Did Mr. Ammon give you the ring you are wearing, and do you consider yourself engaged to him?”

“By what right do you ask such personal questions as those?” inquired Elnora.

“By the right of a betrothed wife.  I have been promised to Philip Ammon ever since I wore short skirts.  All our lives we have expected to marry.  An agreement of years cannot be broken in one insane moment.  Always he has loved me devotedly.  Give me ten minutes with him and he will be mine for all time.”

“I seriously doubt that,” said Elnora.  “But I am willing that you should make the test.  I will call him.”

“Stop!” commanded Edith Carr.  “I told you that it was you I came to see.”

“I remember,” said Elnora.

“Mr. Ammon is my betrothed,” continued Edith Carr.  “I expect to take him back to Chicago with me.”

“You expect considerable,” murmured Elnora.  “I will raise no objection to your taking him, if you can—­but, I tell you frankly, I don’t think it possible.”

“You are so sure of yourself as that,” scoffed Edith Carr.  “One hour in my presence will bring back the old spell, full force.  We belong to each other.  I will not give him up.”