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Will they remain a distinct race？ Will you make citizens；
soldiers； congressmen； governors of them？ Will they intermarry
with the whites？ Is that a part of your plan？ I hope not！〃
It was a part of Peter's sensitive excitement that even through the
unconscious irony of this speech he was noticing the difference
between the young English girl's evident interest in a political
problem and the utter indifference of his own countrywomen。 Here
was a girl scarcely out of her teens； with no pretension to being a
blue stocking； with half the aplomb of an American girl of her own
age； gravely considering a question of political economy。 Oddly
enough； it added to his other irritation； and he said almost
abruptly； 〃Why not？〃
She took the question literally and with a little youthful
timidity。 〃But these mixed races never attain to anything； do
they？ I thought that was understood。 But；〃 she added with
feminine quickness； 〃and I suppose it's again only a PERSONAL
argument； YOU wouldn't like your sister to have married an Indian；
would you？〃
The irony of the situation had reached its climax to Peter。 It
didn't seem to be his voice that said； 〃I can answer by an argument
still more personal。 I have even thought myself of marrying an
Indian woman。〃
It seemed to him that what he said was irrevocable； but he was
desperate。 It seemed to him that in a moment more he would have
told her his whole secret。 But the young girl drew back from him
with a slight start of surprise。 There may have been something in
the tone of his voice and in his manner that verged upon a
seriousness she was never contemplating in her random talk； it may
have been an uneasiness of some youthful imprudence in pressing the
subject upon a man of his superiority； and that his abrupt climax
was a rebuke。 But it was only for a moment； her youthful buoyancy；
and； above all； a certain common sense that was not incompatible to
her high nature； came to her rescue。 〃But that；〃 she said with
quick mischievousness； 〃would be a SACRIFICE taken in the interest
of these people； don't you see； and being a sacrifice； it's no
argument。〃
Peter saw his mistake； but there was something so innocent and
delightful in the youthful triumph of this red…lipped logician；
that he was forced to smile。 I have said that his smile was rare
and fascinating； a concession wrung from his dark face and calm
beardless lips that most people found irresistible； but it was odd；
nevertheless； that Lady Elfrida now for the first time felt a
sudden and not altogether unpleasant embarrassment over the very
subject she had approached with such innocent fearlessness。 There
was a new light in her eyes； a fresher color in her cheeks as she
turned her faceshe knew not whyaway from him。 But it enabled
her to see a figure approaching them from the fort。 And I grieve
to say that； perhaps for the first time in her life； Lady Elfrida
was guilty of an affected start。
〃Oh； here's Reggy coming to look for me。 I'd quite forgotten； but
I'm so glad。 I want you to know my brother Reggy。 He was always
so sorry he missed you at the Grange。〃
The tall； young； good…looking brown Englishman who had sauntered up
bestowed a far more critical glance upon Peter's horse than upon
Peter； but nevertheless grasped his hand heartily as his sister
introduced him。 Perhaps both men were equally undemonstrative；
although the reserve of one was from temperament and the other from
education。 Nevertheless Lord Reginald remarked； with a laugh； that
it was awfully jolly to be there； and that it had been a beastly
shame that he was in Scotland when Atherly was at the Grange。 That
none of them had ever suspected till they came to the fort that he；
Atherly； was one of those government chappies； and so awfully keen
on Indian politics。 〃Friddy〃 had been the first to find it out；
but they thought she was chaffing。 At which 〃Friddy；〃 who had
suddenly resolved herself into the youthfulest of schoolgirls in
the presence of her brother； put her parasol like an Indian club
behind her back； and still rosy； beamed admiringly upon Reggy。
Then the three； Peter leading his horse； moved on towards the fort；
presently meeting 〃Georgy；〃 the six…foot Guardsman cousin in
extraordinary tweeds and flannel shirt； Lord Runnybroke； uncle of
Friddy； middle…aged and flannel…shirted； a mighty hunter； Lady
Runnybroke； in a brown duster； but with a stately head that
suggested ostrich feathers； Moyler…Spence； M。 P。； with an eyeglass；
and the Hon。 Evelyn Kayne； closely attended by the always gallant
Lieutenant Forsyth。 Peter began to feel a nervous longing to be
alone on the burning plain and the empty horizon beyond them； until
he could readjust himself to these new conditions； and glanced
half…wearily around him。 But his eye met Friddy's； who seemed to
have evoked this gathering with a wave of her parasol； like the
fairy of a pantomime； and he walked on in silence。
A day or two of unexpected pleasure passed for Peter。 In these new
surroundings he found he could separate Lady Elfrida from his
miserable past； and the conventional restraint of Ashley Grange。
Again； the revelation of her familiar name Friddy seemed to make
her more accessible and human to him than her formal title； and
suited the girlish simplicity that lay at the foundation of her
character； of which he had seen so little before。 At least so he
fancied； and so excused himself； it was delightful to find her
referring to him as an older friend； pleasant； indeed； to see that
her family tacitly recognized it； and frequently appealed to him
with the introduction； 〃Friddy says you can tell us；〃 or 〃You and
Friddy had better arrange it between you。〃 Even the dreaded
introduction of his sister was an agreeable surprise； owing to Lady
Elfrida's frank and sympathetic prepossession； which Jenny could
not resist。 In a few moments they were walking together in serious
and apparently confidential conversation。 For to Peter's wonder it
was the 〃Lady Elfrida〃 side of the English girl's nature that
seemed to have attracted Jenny； and not the playfulness of
〃Friddy；〃 and he was delighted to see that the young girl had
assumed a grave chaperonship of the tall Mrs。 Lascelles that would
have done credit to Mrs。 Carter or Lady Runnybroke。 Had he been
less serious he might have been amused； too； at the importance of
his own position in the military outpost； through the arrival of
the strangers。 That this grave political enthusiast and civilian
should be on familiar terms with a young Englishwoman of rank was
at first inconceivable to the officers。 And that he had never
alluded to it before seemed to them still more remarkable。
Nevertheless； there was much liveliness and good fellowship at the
fort。 Captains and lieutenants down to the youngest 〃cub；〃
Forsyth； vied with each other to please the Englishmen； supplied
them with that characteristic American