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Rh that she was glad he brought no one with him; but a little stinging stab of disappointment deep down in her heart and an eager, hungry desire to learn the news he brought, told a very different story.

Then Lucette caught sight of him.

"Look, Gabrielle, look. There rides Denys," she cried excitedly.

"Where?" asked Gabrielle in a calm tone, feeling like a wicked hypocrite for her small pretence.

"There, there. I hope he will not see us," exclaimed Lucette, pointing in his direction and making herself as conspicuous as possible.

"You are showing yourself plainly, Lucette."

"Then he will know where not to come, if he is not in a better temper than this morning."

Denys had seen Lucette. Gabrielle saw him turn and look toward them and then ride on toward the house without making a sign.

"He might have waved a hand," said Lucette, pouting and shrugging her shoulders. "But I will punish him. Let us go away from here."

"But just now you implied that he would not come here."

"I will not forgive him easily if he does," said Lucette, with a shake of the head and a little stamp of the foot.

"I will leave you to meet him, coz; and take my advice, cease to play this foolish game with him."

"There are two other cavaliers riding this way," said Lucette suddenly, "and spurring hard in urgent haste, it would seem."

Had they not been so intent in watching these and speaking of Denys, they would have seen yet another cavalier who stepped for a moment from a belt of trees, looked eagerly in their direction, and then hurriedly hid himself.

Gabrielle, quite unconscious of this, continued to urge