"'No' (hesitating), 'I think not. The savage is sordid. I think--that is, I _hope_--you would neither of you share your hearth with that to which you could not give your heart.'
"'What suggested the wild West to your mind, Miss Keeldar? Have you been with me in spirit when I did not see you? Have you entered into my day-dreams, and beheld my brain labouring at its scheme of a future?'
"She had separated a slip of paper for lighting tapers--a spill, as it is called--into fragments. She threw morsel by morsel into the fire, and stood pensively watching them consume. She did not speak.
"'How did you learn what you seem to know about my intentions?'

"'No' (hesitating), 'I think not. I hope you would neither of you share your hearth with that to which you could not give your heart.'
"'What suggested the wild West to your mind, Miss Keeldar? Have you entered my day-dreams, and beheld my brain at work?'
"She had torn a slip of paper into fragments, and threw morsel by morsel into the fire, pensively watching them burn. She did not speak.
"'How did you learn my intentions?'
