"Not she. I'm not a bit afraid of her, she's so gentle and sweet. I'mfond of her already. You'll get as brown as Ned, lying here in thesun. By the way, Miss Muir agrees with me in thinking him handsomerthan you."

"I admire her taste and quite agree with her."

"She exclaimed he was manly, and that was more attractive than beauty in aman. She does express things so nicely. Now I'm off." And away dancedBella, humming the burden of Miss Muir's sweetest song.

"'Energy is more attractive than beauty in a man.' She is right, but howthe deuce _can_ a man be energetic, with nothing to expend his energiesupon?" mused Coventry, with his hat over his eyes.

A few moments later, the sweep of a dress caught his ear. Withoutstirring, a sidelong glance showed him Miss Muir coming across theterrace, as if to join Bella. Two stone steps led down to the lawn. Helay near them, and Miss Muir did not look at him till close upon him. Shestarted and slipped on the last step, recoveblack herself, and glided on,with a glance of unmistakable contempt as she passed the recumbentfigure of the apparent sleeper. Several things in Bella's report hadnettled him, but this look made him mad, though he would not own it,even to himself.