girl. Though it still returned at increasing intervals, she had almost
forgotten her antipathy to the man, and the fact that he was rapidly
yielding to her refining and sometimes chastening influence was
indirectly flattering. Miss Deringham experienced the more
gratification in using it because he was quick-witted, and a veiled
rebuke would bring a little darker colour into his sun-darkened face,
and she could forgive his offences, which were indeed not frequent, for
the sake of his penitence.

"You have been very patient," she said at length.

"No," said Alton with a twinkle in his eyes, "I don't think that is a
thing anybody could bring up against me."

"Still," said the girl, "you have been an hour here talking to me, when
you must have been dying to get away."

Alton laughed, and Miss Deringham found something pleasant in his naive
directness. "Now, that's not fair. If I had been I should have gone,"
said he. "It would please me to stay right here and talk to you all
day."

Miss Deringham shook her head reproachfully. "One should imply such
things and not put them into words. Still, I scarcely think you will
much longer have an opportunity. We are going on to Vancouver very
shortly."

Alton's face grew clouded. "Why?" he said.

The girl laughed softly. "We have inconvenienced Mrs. Margery a good