He  found  her  down  on  the  bear-skin  before  the
big  fire-place,  her  swirling  white  skirts  half
smothered  with  kinnikinic  and  cedar-sprigs.  Her
too-transparent  dress  was  of  white,  soft  and  volu-
minous. The  waist  and  sleeves  were  shockingly
thin,  showing  her  creamy  skin  through  more  webby,
airy  stuff  underneath,  cross-barred  with  strips  of
nothing  and  threaded  with  ghosts  of  white  ribbons
— all  of  which  he  very  much  feared  could  not  have
been  intended  for  mortal  eyes,  but  for  the  life  of
him  he  couldn't  help  looking.  Scarlet  ribbon  bound
her  slim  waist  and  fastened  the  end  of  her  heavy
braid.  She  seemed  wholly  and  absolutely  uncon-
scious of  the  presence  of  an  intruder,  so  he  had  time
for  a  full  minute  of  breathless  looking  before,
smiling  and  dimpling,  she  glanced  up.
"  You  here,  Senoritof    Why,  how  nice!  "

But  his  glance  was  full  of  grave  remonstrance
now,  and  his  mouth  twice  graver  than  his  eyes.
He  was  silent,  and  the  silences  of  some  persons  can
mean  so  much.  Almost  they  were  changing  places,
that  he  should  even  imply  a  rebuke  to  her.  She
sprang  up  and  stood  regarding  him  haughtily.
"  Pray,  is  this  not  Eldhurst  lodge?"  she  ques-
tioned, "  Was  I,  Lilys  Eldreth,  supposed  to  know
that  you  would  be  sent  here?  Haven't  I  the  right
to  all  Eldhurst  without  stopping  to  ask  where  its
employes  may  be  at  work?  "


THIS  WAS  A  MAN.  203

As  yet  he  had  not  spoken.  She  was  accusing
herself.  A  pained  expression  came  into  his  steady
blue  eyes  as  they  looked  into  her  proud  obstinate
face.  He  lifted  his  hand  in  deprecation  and  turned
silently  away.
Her  mood  changed  instantly.  She  came  toward
him,  searching  his  unreadable  face.
