She laughed a little. "It was absurd of me to make such a mistake.
But yours was the only face that looked in the least familiar in
all that crowd. I was so glad to see it."

"You have never been in this country before?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Never. I feel a dreadful outsider at
present. But I shall soon learn.'

"Do you ride?" he said.

Her eyes kindled. "Yes. I was keen on hunting in England. That
will be a help, won't it?"

"It would be," he said, "if you stayed."

"I have come to stay," she said with assurance.

"Wait a bit!" said Burke Ranger.

His manner rather than his words checked her. She felt again that
cold dread pressing against her heart. She turned from the subject
as one seeking escape.

She ate a good breakfast almost in spite of herself. Ranger
insisted upon it, and since he was evidently hungry himself it
seemed churlish not to keep him company. He told her a little
about the country, while they ate, but he strenuously avoided all
things personal, and she felt compelled to follow his lead. He