She raised her head at that point; saw him, and waved a commanding hand. Impelled by eagerness, he condescended to hurry.
"Casual demon--what _have_ you been up to?" she greeted him with mock severity.
"Prowling on the ridge. It was gorgeous up there," he answered, noticing in detail the curve of her eyelid and thick dark lashes.
"Well, tea's half cold and most of it eaten; and Aunt Lila seemed wondering a little. So I offered to go and unearth you."
A dimple dipped in one cheek. "I couldn't! I was going to the wood, on chance. Come along."
"No hurry. If tea's half cold, it can wait a bit longer." He drew a breath, nerving himself; then: "Tara--I've got a proposal to make."
"Roy!" Her lips quivered, just perceptibly, and were still.
"Well, it's this. Wouldn't it be splendid if _you_ came along out--with us three?"
"Roy!" It was a changed intonation. "That's _not_ a subject for a practical joke."
"But I'm in earnest. High Tower Princess, wouldn't you love to come?"
"Of course I would." Was it his fancy, or did the blood stir ever so little in her cheeks? "But it's utterly, crazily impossible. The sort of thing only _you_ would suggest. So please let be--and come along in."
"Not till you promise. I'm dead set on this. And I'm going to have it out with you."
"Well, you won't have _me_ out with you--if you talk till midnight."
Her smile had its delicious tremulous quality. "Were you twenty-one last birthday--or twelve? If you think you'll be lonely, ask for Christine. She's your sister--I'm not!"
The emphasis and faint inflection of the last words had their intended effect. Roy's face fell. "O-oh, I see. But you've always been my sort of sister. Thea would understand. And nowadays girls do all sorts of things."
"Yes--they do!" Tara agreed demurely. "They scratch faces and burn down beautiful harmless houses. But they don't happen to belong to mother. Roy--it's what I said--crazily--utterly---- If it wasn't, d'you suppose I'd say No?"
Then Roy knew he was beaten. Also he knew she was right and that he had been an impulsive fool--depressing convictions both. For a moment he stood nonplussed while Tara fingered a long chain he had given her, and absently studied a daisy-plant that had dared to invade the oldest, loveliest lawn in that part of the country.