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Rh his hands behind his head, and looked with troubled eyes at this splendid prospect. From the room beyond came the murmur of conversation, every now and then interrupted by the high, cackling laugh of Tod McCormick. Presently there was a break in the voices, they grew louder and decreased, the hall door banged, and Letitia came rustling into the room.

"It 's too bad Maud and Mortimer are not back yet," she said. "You 'll have to talk to me."

Gault yawned, flung out his arms in a stretch, and looked at her smiling.

"I told a little story in there. It was out of consideration for the feelings of your young man. I did n't come to see Mortimer. I came to see you."

There was no denying the fact that Letitia looked pleased. She tried to hide her satisfaction under an air of curiosity.

"What did you come to see me for?" she asked.

"To take a walk. It 's too fine to stay indoors talking to Tod McCormicks. Go upstairs and put on your hat, and let's take a pasear."

Letitia needed no urging. She rarely went out alone with Gault, and the prospect of a walk in his society was very attractive.

She was absent some time. When she re-