You will never grow old, my little mother!" "Ponce de Leon made a great mistake when he didn't search in these forests for his fountain of eternal youth," said Adare, laying a hand on Philip's shoulder.

"Would you guess that it was twenty-two years ago a month from to-day that she came to be mistress of Adare House?
And you, Ma Cheri," added Adare tenderly, taking his wife by the hand, "Do you remember that it was over this same trail that we took our first walk--from home?
We went to the Chasm." "Yes, I remember." "And here--where we stand--the wood violets were so thick they left perfume on our boots." "And you made me a wreath of them--with the red bakneesh," said Miriam softly.
"And braided it in your hair." "Yes." She was breathing a little more quickly.

For a moment it seemed as if these two had forgotten Philip and Josephine.

Their eyes had turned to each other.
"Twenty-two years ago--A MONTH FROM TO-DAY!" repeated Josephine.
It seemed as if she had spoken the words that Philip might catch their hidden meaning.
Adare straightened with a sudden idea: "On that day we shall have a great anniversary feast," he declared.

"We will ask every soul--red and white--for a hundred miles about, with the exception of the rogues over at Thoreau's Place! What do you say, Philip ?" "Splendid!" cried Philip, catching triumphantly at this straw in the face of Josephine's plans for him.