"Two wishes in one day?" said Percival.
"Second thoughts are best," she answered, turning coldly away. "Is there no other way home? I hate walking the same way twice."
"There is the road: I'm afraid it may be hot, but it would be a change."
"I should prefer the road," she said.
That walk seemed interminable to Percival Thorne. He was ready to believe that the road lengthened itself, in sheer spite, to leagues of arid dust, and that every familiar landmark fled before him. At last, however, they approached a point where two ways diverged—the one leading straight into the old town, while the other, wide and trimly kept, passed between many bright new villas and gardens. At that corner they might part. But before they reached it a slim, gray-clad figure appeared from the suburban road and strolled leisurely toward them. Percival looked, looked again, shaded his eyes and looked. "Why, it's Horace!" he exclaimed.
Lottie made no reply, but she awoke from her sullen musing, a light flashed into her eyes, and she quickened her pace toward the man who should deliver her from her tête-à-tête with Percival.
CHAPTER V.
WHY NOT LOTTIE?
Percival advanced to meet his cousin. "You here, Horace?" he said.