avail myself. I don't know what else I can do, as I wish to meet Mr.
Caswall of Castra Regis, who arrives home from Africa to-day. It is a
notable home-coming; all the countryside want to do him honour." She
looked at the old men and quickly made up her mind as to the identity of
the stranger. "You must be Mr. Adam Salton of Lesser Hill. I am Lady
Arabella March of Diana's Grove." As she spoke she turned slightly to
Mr. Salton, who took the hint and made a formal introduction.

So soon as this was done, Adam took some tools from his uncle's carriage,
and at once began work on the broken spring. He was an expert workman,
and the breach was soon made good. Adam was gathering the tools which he
had been using--which, after the manner of all workmen, had been
scattered about--when he noticed that several black snakes had crawled
out from the heap of stones and were gathering round him. This naturally
occupied his mind, and he was not thinking of anything else when he
noticed Lady Arabella, who had opened the door of the carriage, slip from
it with a quick gliding motion. She was already among the snakes when he
called out to warn her. But there seemed to be no need of warning. The
snakes had turned and were wriggling back to the mound as quickly as they
could. He laughed to himself behind his teeth as he whispered, "No need
to fear there. They seem much more afraid of her than she of them." All
the same he began to beat on the ground with a stick which was lying
close to him, with the instinct of one used to such vermin. In an
instant he was alone beside the mound with Lady Arabella, who appeared
quite unconcerned at the incident. Then he took a long look at her, and
her dress alone was sufficient to attract attention. She was clad in
some kind of soft white stuff, which clung close to her form, showing to
the full every movement of her sinuous figure. She wore a close-fitting
cap of some fine fur of dazzling white. Coiled round her white throat
was a large necklace of emeralds, whose profusion of colour dazzled when