“What has disturbed your usual equanimity, Euan?  You seem as flushed and impatient as—­ as a lover at a tryst, for example.”

At that I coloured so hotly that she laughed and took my arm, saying: 

“There is no sport in plaguing so honest a heart as yours, dear lad.  Come; shall we walk over to call upon your fairy princess?  Or had you rather bring her here to me?”

“She also leaves it to your pleasure,” I said; “Naturally,” said Mrs. Bleecker, with a touch of hauteur; then, softening, smiled as much at herself as at me, I think.

“Come,” she said gaily.  “Sans cérémonie, n’est-ce pas?”

And we sauntered dawn the road.

“Her box arrived last evening,” said I.  “God send that Mr. Hake has chosen to please her.”

“Is he married?”

“No.”

“Lord!” said she gravely.  “Then it is well enough that you pray....  Perhaps, however,” and she gave me a mischievous look, “you have entrusted such commissions to Mr. Hake before.”

“I never have!” I said earnestly, then was obliged to join in her delighted laughter.

“I knew you had not, Euan.  But had I asked that question of your friend, Mr. Boyd, and had he answered me as you did, I might have thought he lied.”

I said nothing.

“He is at our house every day, and every moment when he is not on duty,” she remarked.

“What gallant man would not do the like, if privileged?” I said lightly.

“Lana talks with him too much.  Angelina and I have kept our rooms, as I wrote you, truly dreading a stroke of the sun.  But Lana!  Lord!  She was up and out and about with her lieutenant; and he had an Oneida to take them both boating—­ and then he had the canoe only, and paddled it himself....  They were gone too long to suit me,” she added curtly.

“When?”

“Every night.  I wish I knew where they go in their canoe.  But I can do nothing with Lana....  You, perhaps, might say a friendly word to Mr. Boyd—­ if you are on that footing with him—­ to consider Lana’s reputation a little more, and his own amusement a little less.”

I said slowly:  “Whatever footing I am on with him, I will say that to him, if you wish.”

“I don’t wish you to provoke him.”

“I shall take pains not to.”

She said impatiently:  “There are far too many army duels now.  It sickens me to hear of them.  Besides, Lana did ever raise the devil beyond bounds with any man she could ensnare—­ and no harm done.”

“No harm,” I said.  “Walter Butler had a hurt of her bright eyes, and sulked for months.  And many another, Mrs. Bleecker.  But somehow, Mr. Boyd—­ "

She nodded:  “Yes—­ he’s too much like her—­ but, being a man, scarcely as innocent of intention, I’ve said as much to her, and left her pouting—­ the silly little jade.”

We said nothing more, having come in sight of the low house of logs where Lois dwelt.