having eaten his fill, quietly allowed himself to be taken. The young
man came riding back on him. Colina could almost have wept with
mortification.

He slipped out of the saddle beside her and stood waiting for her to
mount. There was no consciousness of triumph in his manner.

His eyes flew back to hers with the same extraordinarily naïve glance.
When Colina frowned under it he literally dragged them away, but in
spite of him they soon returned.

Many a man's eyes had been offered to Colina, but never a pair that
glowed with a fire like this. They were at the same time bold and
humble. They contained an imploring appeal without any sacrifice of
self-respect. They disturbed Colina to such a degree she scarcely knew
what she was doing.

He offered her a hand to mount, and she drew back with an offended air.
He instantly yielded, and she mounted unaided--mounted awkwardly, and
bit her lip again.

He did not immediately loose her rein. Out of the corner of her eye
Colina saw that he was breathing fast.

"It will he late before you get home," he said. His voice was very
low--she could feel the effort he was making not to let it shake.
"Will you--will you eat with me?"

The modest tendering of this bold invitation disarmed Colina. She
hesitated. He went on with a touch of boyish eagerness: "There's only