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〃Thanks；〃 said Mainwaring； with a bow to Miss Macy； 〃but III
think；〃 he added conscientiously； 〃you did not notice that your
husband had written something across the paper。〃
Mrs。 Bradley smiled； and glanced at her husband's indorsement〃All
right。 Wade in。〃 〃It's nothing but Jim's slang；〃 she said； with a
laugh and a slightly heightened color。 〃He ought not to have sent
you by that short cut； it's a bother； and even dangerous for a
stranger。 If you had come directly to US by the road； without
making your first call at the mill；〃 she added； with a touch of
coquetry； 〃you would have had a pleasanter walk； and seen US
sooner。 I suppose； however； you got off the stage at the mill？〃
〃I was not on the coach；〃 said Mainwaring； unfastening the strap of
his knapsack。 〃I walked over from Lone Pine Flat。〃
〃Walked！〃 echoed both women in simultaneous astonishment。
〃Yes；〃 returned Mainwaring simply； laying aside his burden and
taking the proffered seat。 〃It's a very fine bit of country。〃
〃Why； it's fifteen miles；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； glancing horror…
stricken at her cousin。 〃How dreadful！ And to think Jim could
have sent you a horse to Lone Pine。 Why； you must be dead！〃
〃Thanks； I'm all right！ I rather enjoyed it； you know。〃
〃But；〃 said Miss Macy； glancing wonderingly at his knapsack； 〃you
must want something； a changeor some refreshmentafter fifteen
miles。〃
〃Pray don't disturb yourself；〃 said Mainwaring； rising hastily； but
not quickly enough to prevent the young girl from slipping past him
into the house； whence she rapidly returned with a decanter and
glasses。
〃Perhaps Mr。 Mainwaring would prefer to go into Jim's room and wash
his hands and put on a pair of slippers？〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； with
gentle concern。
〃Thanks； no。 I really am not tired。 I sent some luggage yesterday
by the coach to the Summit Hotel；〃 he said； observing the women's
eyes still fixed upon his knapsack。 〃I dare say I can get them if
I want them。 I've got a change here；〃 he continued； lifting the
knapsack as if with a sudden sense of its incongruity with its
surroundings； and depositing it on the end of the veranda。
〃Do let it remain where it is；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； greatly amused；
〃and pray sit still and take some refreshment。 You'll make
yourself ill after your exertions；〃 she added； with a charming
assumption of matronly solicitude。
〃But I'm not at all deserving of your sympathy；〃 said Mainwaring；
with a laugh。 〃I'm awfully fond of walking； and my usual
constitutional isn't much under this。〃
〃Perhaps you were stronger than you are now；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley；
gazing at him with a frank curiosity that； however； brought a faint
deepening of color to his cheek。
〃I dare say you're right；〃 he said suddenly； with an apologetic
smile。 〃I quite forgot that I'm a sort of an invalid； you know；
travelling for my health。 I'm not very strong here；〃 he added；
lightly tapping his chest； that now； relieved of the bands of his
knapsack； appeared somewhat thin and hollow in spite of his broad
shoulders。 His voice； too； had become less clear and distinct。
Mrs。 Bradley； who was still watching him； here rose potentially。
〃You ought to take more care of yourself；〃 she said。 〃You should
begin by eating this biscuit； drinking that glass of whiskey； and
making yourself more comfortable in Jim's room until we can get the
spare room fixed a little。〃
〃But I am not to be sent to bedam I？〃 asked Mainwaring； in half…
real； half…amused consternation。
〃I'm not so sure of that；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； with playful precision。
〃But for the present we'll let you off with a good wash and a nap
afterwards in that rocking…chair； while my cousin and I make some
little domestic preparations。 You see；〃 she added with a certain
proud humility； 〃we've got only one servanta Chinaman； and there
are many things we can't leave to him。〃
The color again rose in Mainwaring's cheek； but he had tact enough
to reflect that any protest or hesitation on his part at that
moment would only increase the difficulties of his gentle
entertainers。 He allowed himself to be ushered into the house by
Mrs。 Bradley； and shown to her husband's room； without perceiving
that Miss Macy had availed herself of his absence to run to the end
of the veranda； mischievously try to lift the discarded knapsack to
her own pretty shoulder； but； failing； heroically stagger with it
into the passage and softly deposit it at his door。 This done； she
pantingly rejoined her cousin in the kitchen。
〃Well；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； emphatically。 〃DID you ever？ Walking
fifteen miles for pleasureand with such lungs！〃
〃And that knapsack！〃 added Louise Macy； pointing to the mark in her
little palm where the strap had imbedded itself in the soft flesh。
〃He's nice； though； isn't he？〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； tentatively。
〃Yes；〃 said Miss Macy； 〃he isn't； certainly； one of those
provincial fine gentlemen you object to。 But DID you see his
shoes？ I suppose they make the miles go quickly； or seem to
measure less by comparison。〃
〃They're probably more serviceable than those high…heeled things
that Captain Greyson hops about in。〃
〃But the Captain always ridesand rides very wellyou know；〃 said
Louise； reflectively。 There was a moment's pause。
〃I suppose Jim will tell us all about him；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley；
dismissing the subject； as she turned her sleeves back over her
white arms； preparatory to grappling certain culinary difficulties。
〃Jim；〃 observed Miss Macy； shortly； 〃in my opinion； knows nothing
more than his note says。 That's like Jim。〃
〃There's nothing more to know； really；〃 said Mrs。 Bradley； with a
superior air。 〃He's undoubtedly the son of some Englishman of
fortune； sent out here for his health。〃
〃Hush！〃
Miss Macy had heard a step in the passage。 It halted at last； half
irresolutely； before the open door of the kitchen； and the stranger
appeared with an embarrassed air。
But in his brief absence he seemed to have completely groomed
himself； and stood there； the impersonation of close…cropped；
clean； and wholesome English young manhood。 The two women
appreciated it with cat…like fastidiousness。
〃I beg your pardon； but really you're going to let a fellow do
something for you；〃 he said； 〃just to keep him from looking like a
fool。 I really can do no end of things； you know； if you'll try
me。 I've done some camping…out； and can cook as well as the next
man。〃
The two women made a movement of smiling remonstrance； half
coquettish； and half superior； until Mrs。 Bradley； becoming
conscious of her bare arms and the stranger's wandering eyes；
colored faintly； and said with more decision：
〃Certainly not。 You'd only be in the way。 Besides； you need rest
more than we do。 Put yourself in the rocking…chair in the veranda；
and go to sleep until Mr。 Bradley comes。〃
Mainwaring saw that sh