"Not in the least," Darrell answered, his dark eyes full of merriment. "I only wish I had been fortunate enough to have arrived a little earlier."
A mischievous response to his challenge sparkled in Kate's eyes for a moment, but she only replied, demurely,—
"You shall have your opportunity later."
"When?"
"Two weeks from to-night."
"Ah! am I to be honored with an invitation?"
"Most assuredly you will be invited," Kate replied, quietly; then added, shyly, "and I myself invite you personally, here and now, and that is honoring you as no other guest of mine will be honored."
"Thank you," he replied, gently, with one of his tender smiles; "I accept the personal invitation for your sake."
She was standing on the topmost stair, slightly above him, one hand toying with a spray of blossoms depending from the vines above her head. With a swift movement Darrell caught the little hand and was in the act of carrying it to his lips, when it suddenly slipped from his grasp and its owner as quickly turned and disappeared.
Darrell seated himself with a curious expression. It was not the first time Kate had eluded him thus within the last few days. He had missed of late certain pleasant little familiarities and light, tender caresses, to which he had become accustomed, and he began to