loved that piece of country since the first look I had of it from the Asquith road, and the sight of it rarely failed to set my blood a-tingle with pleasure.  But to-day I scarcely saw it.  I wondered what whim had impelled Miss Thorn to get into this seat.  She paid but little attention to me during the first part of the drive, though a mere look in my direction seemed to afford her amusement.  And at last, half way up the Rise, where the road takes to an embankment, I got a decided jar.

“Mr. Allen,” she cried to the Celebrity, “you must stop here.  Do you remember how long we tarried over this bit on Friday?”

He tightened the lines and threw a meaning glance backward.

I was tempted to say: 

“You and Mr. Allen should know these roads rather well, Miss Thorn.”

“Every inch of them,” she replied.

We must have gone a mile farther when she turned upon me.

“It is your duty to be entertaining, Mr. Crocker.  What in the world are you thinking of, with your brow all puckered up, forbidding as an owl?”

“I was thinking how some people change,” I answered, with a readiness which surprised me.

“Strange,” she said, “I had the same thing in mind.  I hear decidedly queer tales of you; canoeing every day that business does not prevent, and whole evenings spent at the dark end of a veranda.”

“What rubbish!” I exclaimed, not knowing whether to be angered or amused.

“Come, sir,” she said, with mock sternness, “answer the charge.  Guilty or not guilty?”

“First let me make a counter-charge,” said I; “you have given me the right.  Not long ago a certain young lady came to Mohair and found there a young author of note with whom she had had some previous acquaintance.  She did not hesitate to intimate her views on the character of this Celebrity, and her views were not favorable.”

I paused.  There was some satisfaction in seeing Miss Thorn biting her lip.

“Well?”

“Not at all favorable, mind you,” I went on.  “And the young lady’s general appearance was such as to lead one to suppose her the sincerest of persons.  Now I am at a loss to account for a discrepancy between her words and her actions.”

While I talked Miss Thorn’s face had been gradually turning from mine until now I saw only the dainty knot at the back of her head.  Her shoulders were quivering with laughter.  But presently her face came back all gravity, save a suspicious gleam of mirth in the eyes.

“It does seem inconsistent, Mr. Crocker; I grant you that.  No doubt it is so.  But let me ask you something:  did you ever yet know a woman who was not inconsistent?”

I did not realize I had been side-tracked until I came to think over this conversation afterwards.

“I am not sure,” I replied.  “Perhaps I merely hoped that one such existed.”

She dropped her eyes.

“Then don’t be surprised at my failing,” said she.  “No doubt I criticised the Celebrity severely.  I cannot recall what I said.  But it is upon the better side of a character that we must learn to look.  Did it ever strike you that the Celebrity had some exceedingly fine qualities?”