the little island itself. What do you know
about America, any way? Did you ever see an American in your life,
child?"

"Yes, several. I saw Buffalo Bill last year, and lots of Indians and
cow-boys whom he had fetched over. And I saw Professor--Professor--what
was his name? I forget, but he lectured on phrenology; and then there
was Mrs. Geoff Templestowe."

"Oh Mrs. Geoff--she's a different sort. Buffalo Bill and his show can
hardly be treated as specimens of American society, and neither can your
bump-man. But she's a fair sample of the nice kind; and you liked her,
now didn't you? you know you did."

"Well, yes, I did," admitted Imogen, rather grudgingly. "She was really
quite nice, and good-form, and all that, and Isabel said she was far and
away the best sister-in-law yet, and the Squire took such a fancy to her
that it was quite remarkable. But she cannot be used as an argument, for
she's not the least like the American girls in the books. She must have
had unusual advantages. And after all,--nice as she was, she wasn't
English. There was a difference somehow,--you felt it though you
couldn't say exactly what it was."

"No, thank goodness--she isn't; that's just the beauty of it. Why should
all the world be just alike? And what books do you mean, and what girls?
There are all kinds on the other side, I can tell you. Wait till you get
over to the High Valley and you'll see."

This sort of discussion had become habitual of late between the brother
and sister. Three years before, Lionel had gone out to Colorado, to
"look about and see how ranching suited him," as he phrased it, and had
decided that it suited him exactly. He had served a sort of
apprenticeship to Geoffrey Templestowe, the son of an old Devonshire
neighbor, who had settled in a place called High Valley, and, together
with two partners, had built up a flourishing and lucrative cattle
business, owning a large tract of grazing territory and great herds. One
of the partners was now transferred to New Mexico, where the firm owned
land also, and Mr. Young had advanced money to buy Lionel, who was now
competent to begin for himself, a share in the business. He was now
going out to remain permanently, and Imogen was going also, to keep his
house and make a home for him till he should be ready to marry and
settle down.

All over the world there are good English sisters doing this sort of
thing. In Australia and New Zealand they are to be found, in Canada,