He was not even day dreaming the day Nan Ainslee stumbled on him there
under the oaks and pines. She had discovered the knoll when she was
six years old and claimed it for her very own, sharing its beauties
with no one, not even her brother. When she grew to young ladyhood she
often left Green Valley for wonderful trips to the ends of the world.
But she always came back to the lilacs and the seat under the great oak.

At every return she hastened out to see anew her home valley as it
looked from her grove. So it was with something very close to
annoyance that she looked at the sprawling figure of the usurper.

"Well, for pity sakes! What are you doing here?" she demanded.

He opened his eyes slowly and looked at her. She fitted in so well
with the velvet whisper of the wind, the cool blue of the sky and the
world's fresh beauty that he took her appearance as a part of the
picture and was silent. It was only when she repeated her question
rather sharply that he sat up to explain.

"Why, I found this spot months ago! It is the stillest, most heavenly
nook in Green Valley. I come up here whenever I'm tired of thinking."

"Well--I found this place years and years ago," Nanny complained.

"What's the matter with us both using it?" he said very civilly.

"But," objected Nan, "this is the sort of a place that you want all to
yourself."

"Yes, it is," he agreed and did not let the situation worry him