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VI

This morning the world was ablaze with sunshine.

When he had left the studio, Miles had attributed the fact to the undimmed presence of the sun; but now, as he stood beneath the last tree at the summit of the little slope, holding back the branches in each hand lest they give warning of his approach, he pitied himself for his stupidity. The world was ablaze with sunshine because the Princess wore no bonnet.

She had placed her easel nearer the tinkling brook and was facing obliquely the opposite rise of lush, dew-gemmed grass, and the rim of low