they halted in front of the fire-place; "the season opens to-day in this
county, you see." She shrugged her pretty shoulders: "And the women who
don't shoot make the first field-luncheon a function."

She turned, nodded her adieux, then, over her shoulder, casually: "If
you haven't an appointment with the Sand-Man before dinner you may find
me in the gun-room."

"I'll be there in about three minutes," he said; "and what about this
dog?"--looking down at the Sagamore pup who stood before him, wagging,
attentive, always the gentleman to the tips of his toes.

Miss Landis laughed. "Take him to your room if you like. Dogs have the
run of the house."

So he followed a servant to the floor above where a smiling and very
ornamental maid preceded him through a corridor and into that heavy wing
of the house which fronted the sea.

"Tea is served in the gun-room, sir," said the pretty maid, and
disappeared to give place to a melancholy and silent young man who
turned on the bath, laid out fresh raiment, and whispering, "Scotch or
Irish, sir?" presently effaced himself.

Before he quenched his own thirst Siward filled a bowl and set it on the
floor, and it seemed as though the dog would never finish gulping and
slobbering in the limpid icy water.

"It's the salt air, my boy," commented the young man, gravely refilling
his own glass as though accepting the excuse on his own account.