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Both Coolidge and Natalie vanished, while West, finding himself alone, chose a book from the library, and, solaced by a cigar, sought a shady nook on the porch. The book, however, was but a mark for his thoughts, which continually revolved about the strange surroundings in which he found himself. He was apparently making no progress, was no nearer a solution of the mystery confronting him.
Dan and his sister were following at a distance, arm in arm and chattering like magpies. "No, no! That cottage is nothing. Miss Appleton had to have some place to stop." "This all seems like magic." Natalie paused and looked over the busy little town. "And to think you have done it in a year." "It was not I who did it; the credit belongs to those 'boys' of whom I told you.
Strong in her former ascendancy over him, Natalie de Manerville amused herself by leading Felix into the mazes of a quarrel of witty teasing, blushing half-confidences, regrets coyly flung like flowers at his feet, recriminations in which she excused herself for the sole purpose of being put in the wrong.
Through this second day Natalie lived slowly: through the first part of the morning in which people went heavily up and down the stairs; through the later hours when she heard them whispering among themselves upon the landings; through the hour when the footsteps that came down were heavier still, and slower, and impeded with some burden borne with care; through the moment when they rested with this burden upon the landing outside her very door, and inside she crouched against the panels listening.
"Bury us both together in one coffin," she said, while her tears fell fast upon its icy face. Natalie complained of great pain, nothing that the doctor could do seemed to give her any relief, and she lay moaning through the night. About six o'clock in the morning there was a quick step on the stairs which did not escape the ear of the sufferer. "Oh, Louis, Louis come to me," she cried.
Calmed by her caressing voice and the touch of her hand he stretched forth his head to nozzle the other horse in neighborly fashion. "Natalie is a sweet girl, Major Carter," she said tentatively, giving him his full title. "Am I forgiven for coming in her stead?" "On condition that Your Highness will do me the honor of riding with me in her stead." He smiled his usual frank smile.
"That simplifies matters!" exclaimed Mrs. Mabyn. "Their route takes in Spirit River Crossing, I believe," pursued Natalie. Garth affirmed it, wondering. Natalie paused before she went on. "Whatever you may think of what I am going to tell you, Mr. Pevensey," she said with the same proud appeal in her voice, "we may count on you, I am sure, not to speak of it to any one for the present."
'E say " Rina's voice sunk very low "'Let him help me get her, and I'll keep her, all right!" Garth frowned and clenched his fists. His gorge rose intolerably, at the thought of this precious pair contending which was to have Natalie. Rina went on: "Nick Grylls say to 'Erbe't, mustn't let her get out of the country. He say 'If she go out she divorce you." Rina pronounced the word strangely.
Poor Winnie! she tried to smile, and she tried to make one of her most brilliant remarks, as she congratulated her father on his happiness; yet it was not like herself, and Natalie could see, what Mr. Santon in his blindness of joy did not discern, there was no heart in his daughter's mechanical tones.
"I fully approve of what you are doing, Natalie," I said genuinely, "and I wish you every success. But allow me at parting to give you one piece of advice, Natalie; be on your guard with Sobol, and with your assistants generally, and don't trust them blindly.
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