As each was in an indolent mood, they both gave way a little and split the difference by wandering along the waterside, conversing softly about many things--as to how long it would take the seed of the four-o'clock to "sail away, away, over the river," and why a nice brown frog that they came across was not getting ready for bed like the birdies.

There is no such sweet distraction as an excursion into Children's Land, and Sophia wandered quite away with this talkative baby, until she found herself suddenly cast out of Dottie's magic province as she stood beyond the trees that edged the first field not far from the fence of the Harmon garden.

And that which had broken the spell was the appearance of Alec Trenholme.

He came right up to her, as if he had something of importance to say, but either shyness or a difficulty in introducing his subject made him hesitate.

Something in his look caused her to ask lightly: "Have you seen a ghost ?" "Yes." "Are you in earnest ?" "I am in earnest, and," added he, somewhat dubiously, "I think I am in my right mind." He did not say more just then, but looked up and down the road in his search for someone.