it to be no more than a proper regard for his own safety to take such
a precaution while visiting her. Having reached this determination,
he cast about for the means of executing it. He thought he should
require a hammer and a cold chisel, but where such were to be found
he could not conceive. Moreover, even were they in his possession, it
was impossible to see exactly how he could make use of them without
arousing the household. He thought of various devices, such as a
muffled hammer, or a crowbar to wrench the door from its hinges, but
these were discarded in turn as impracticable, from the fact that
they were unobtainable. He looked about him among the shrubbery, but
there was nothing to aid him; and, indeed, how could he expect to
find tools where there were no servants to use them? He got up and
walked down the path, absorbed in reverie, and although unable to
devise any immediate plan to accomplish the task, his resolution
became more fixed as he dwelt upon it. He would risk all things in
opening that door, and was impatient for an opportunity to renew the
effort. Then the girl's voice came floating through the air in a
plaintive melody, and Henley was recalled to his surroundings. In
another minute she had joined him.

"I was afraid you would be lonely without me," she said, "and so I
returned as soon as I had carried the flowers to the house."

"I am so glad," he replied, with a look of unmistakable pleasure. "Do
you know, this is the most romantic place I have ever seen in all my
life, and you are certainly the most romantic girl."

"Am I?" she answered sadly, and without a glimmering suspicion of a
smile.