Miss Deringham was conscious of a trace of annoyance when a girl rode
out of the orchard on a wiry little pony. She was dressed neatly and
rode well, though the somewhat scanty skirt was evidently not the work
of a habitmaker and had seen lengthy service, while the plain straw hat
could not at the limit have cost more than a dollar; nor did she wear
any gloves, and her hands were brown, while her face betokened exposure
to frost and wind and sun. It was, however, a comely face, and Miss
Deringham noticed that the girl carried herself gracefully. It was
also curious that she was not wholly pleased when Alton went forward to
greet the newcomer with his hat in his hand, and, she fancied, offered
more assistance than was absolutely necessary in helping her down.
Then they entered the verandah together, and Alice Deringham smiled in
a fashion which did not pledge her to any extreme good-will when Alton
presented the stranger.

"Miss Townshead, from the ranch back yonder," he said.

Miss Deringham said something of no importance, and waited with
slightly unusual curiosity for the girl's answer, which somewhat
astonished her. The voice was nicely modulated, and the intonation
free from Western harshness and unmistakably English.

"You will come over and see us. It is a long time since we had a visit
from anybody from England," she said. "Are you pleased with this
country?"

Miss Deringham glanced at Alton. "I grow almost enthusiastic about it
at times," she said. "Its inhabitants are also especially kind."

The man did not, however, respond as he might have done. "It's a