'Oh, I'm just going, thank you. Stella has been blowing me up for not being with my parents. There's a little filly I've had sent to my father's for you to ride, Stella. May I come and take you out on Tuesday morning?'
Stella hesitated, and then consented to the arrangement. The brother and sister accompanied their guest to the house, where he made his adieus to the rest of the family. He then mounted his horse and rode away.
CHAPTER II.
The brother and sister returned to the arcade. Cuthbert was the first to speak.
'Stella, there is a question I want to ask, and I'm almost afraid to put it.'
The girl looked up quickly, and then a smile slowly crept over her face.
'Dear darling boy, don't be afraid to ask me questions—as if they were lighted matches that might fall into gunpowder.'
'Has anything special passed between you and Ritchie?'
'Yes.'
'Have you accepted him?'