romance, and insisted on Zora being taken into their confidence. But
Septimus believed that the radiant beings of the earth, such as Emmy and
Mordaunt Prince, from whom a quaint destiny kept him aloof, could only lead
radiant lives, and the thought of harm did not cross his candid mind. Even
while keeping Emmy's secret from Zora, he regarded it as a romantic and
even dainty deceit.

Zora, seeing him happy with his guns and Wiggleswick and Emmy, applauded
herself mightily as a contriver of good. Her mother also put ideas into her
head.

From the drawing-room window they once saw Emmy and Septimus part at the
little front gate. They had evidently returned from a walk. She plucked a
great white chrysanthemum bloom from a bunch she was carrying, flicked it
laughingly in his face, and stuck it in his buttonhole.

"What a good thing it would be for Emmy," said Mrs. Oldrieve, with a sigh.

"To marry Septimus? Oh, mother!"

She laughed merrily; then all at once she became serious.

"Why not?" she cried, and kissed her mother.

Mrs. Oldrieve settled her cap. She was small and Zora was large, and Zora's
embraces were often disarranging.

"He is a gentleman and can afford to keep a wife."

"And steady?" said Zora, with a smile.