"Good gracious! Vic, what a baby," and he laughed aloud.
He stepped to her side, however, and as her face pale, pretty, even though babyish, was upturned to his he could not resist the temptation, and he bent and kissed her full upon the pouting lips.
Then a pair of soft arms were wound quickly about his neck, and a voice whispered softly:
"Why can't you stay with me always, August?"
He tore himself loose instantly, a guilty feeling entering his heart. He was acting the hypocrite with a vengeance, and it did not agree with his honorable nature.
"Confound it, Miss Vane, what a tease you are. There comes your brother now, and I must away."
"You will call when you return from your hunt?"
"Perhaps."
He then passed outside.
A single horseman was riding slowly down the forest road toward the village.