And"--here he made a mock solemn bow--"My compliments to Miss
Soriso!"

The red-haired youth remained for a moment stock-still with mouth
and eyes open,--then, snatching up the empty milk-pail he scampered
down the hill-slope at a lightning quick run.

Seaton looked after him with an air of contemptuous amusement.

"Ugly little devil!" he soliloquised--"And yet Nature made him,--as
she makes many hideous things--in a hurry, I presume, without any
time for details or artistic finish. Well!"--here he stretched his
arms out with a long sigh--"And the silly girl is 'too busy' to
come! As if I could not see through THAT little game! She'd give her
eyes to come!--fine eyes they are, too! She just thinks she'll pay
me out for being rough with her the other day--she's got an idea
that she'll vex me, and make me want to see her. She's right,--I AM
vexed!--and I DO want to see her!"

It was mid-morning, and the sun blazed down upon the hill-side with
the scorching breath of a volcano. He turned into his hut,--it was a
dark, cool little dwelling, comfortable enough for a single
inhabitant. There was a camp-bed in one corner--and there were a
couple of wicker chairs made for easy transposition into full-length
couches if so required, A good sized deal table occupied the centre
of the living-room,--and on the table was a clear crystal bowl full
of what appeared at a first glance to be plain water, but which on
closer observation showed a totally different quality. Unlike water
it was never still,--some interior bubbling perpetually moved it to
sway and sparkle, throwing out tiny flashes as though the smallest