“Can’t we see the cows?” she asked.

Susan looked surprised.

“I didn’t know you were interested in cows, Honora.”

“I am interested in everything,” said Honora:  “and I think your brother is so attractive.”

It was at this moment that Joshua, with his hands in his pockets, demanded what his sister was doing there.

“Miss Leffingwell wants to look at the cattle, Josh,” called Susan.

“Won’t you show them to me, Mr. Holt,” begged Honora.  “I’d like so much to see some really good cattle, and to know a little more about them.”

Joshua appeared incredulous.  But, being of the male sex, he did not hide the fact that he was pleased, “it seems strange to have somebody really want to see them,” he said.  “I tried to get Spence to come back this way, but the idea didn’t seem to appeal to him.  Here are some of the records.”

“Records?” repeated Honora, looking at a mass of typewritten figures on the wall.  “Do you mean to say you keep such an exact account of all the milk you get?”

Joshua laughed, and explained.  She walked by his side over the concrete paving to the first of the varnished stalls.

“That,” he said, and a certain pride had come into his voice, “is Lady Guinevere, and those ribbons are the prizes she has taken on both sides of the water.”

“Isn’t she a dear!” exclaimed Honora; “why, she’s actually beautiful.  I didn’t know cows could be so beautiful.”

“She isn’t bad,” admitted Joshua.  “Of course the good points in a cow aren’t necessarily features of beauty for instance, these bones here,” he added, pointing to the hips.

“But they seem to add, somehow, to the thoroughbred appearance,” Honora declared.

“That’s absolutely true,” replied Joshua,—­whereupon he began to talk.  And Honora, still asking questions, followed him from stall to stall.  “There are some more in the pasture,” he said, when they had reached the end of the second building.

“Oh, couldn’t I see them?” she asked.

“Surely,” replied Joshua, with more of alacrity than one would have believed him capable.  “I’ll tell Susan to drive on, and you and I will walk home across the fields, if you like.”

“I should love to,” said Honora.

It was not without astonishment that the rest of the Holt family beheld them returning together as the gongs were sounding for luncheon.  Mrs. Holt, upon perceiving them, began at once to shake her head and laugh.

“My dear, it can’t be that you have captivated Joshua!” she exclaimed, in a tone that implied the carrying of a stronghold hitherto thought impregnable.

Honora blushed, whether from victory or embarrassment, or both, it is impossible to say.

“I’m afraid it’s just the other way, Mrs. Holt,” she replied; “Mr. Holt has captivated me.”

“We’ll call it mutual, Miss Leffingwell,” declared Joshua, which was for him the height of gallantry.