very wonderful and queer. It sort of made me ashamed of the way I
was taking it, and I went out to begin again,--that's how it seemed
to me,--and I woke everybody up and set things going and saw that
the horses were all right, and then I climbed over the wall, and as
I walked away, out again for the first time after all those bad
weeks, I wanted to find some one young to talk to. I don't know how
it was, but I went straight up the hill and wasn't a bit surprised
when I saw you standing there."

"That's funny," said Joan.

"Funny--how?"

"I don't know. But if you hadn't found me after the feeling that
came to me at lunch--"

"Well?"

"Well, I'm sure I should have turned bitter and never believed any
more in fairies and all that. I don't think I mean fairies, and I
can't explain what 'all that' stands for, but I know I should have
been warped if I hadn't turned round and seen you."

And she laughed and set him laughing, and the reason of their having
met was waved aside. The fact remained that there they were--youth
with youth, and that was good enough.