hat
their lungs-- But of course it was only natural at her age. I used to
cheer her up all I could and say-- The air is splendid there, of course,
and the sun somehow never seems to heat you up as it does at the East,
though it _is_ hot, but I think when people have weak chests they'd
better-- Dr. Hope doesn't think so, I know, but after all there are a
great many doctors beside Dr. Hope, and-- Ellen quite agrees with me--
What was I saying."

Elsie wondered on what fragment of the medley she would fix. She was
destined never to know, for just then came the trample of hoofs and the
"Boys" rode up to the door.

She went out on the porch to meet them and break the news of the
unexpected guests.

"That old thing!" cried Clarence, with unflattering emphasis. "Oh,
thunder! I thought we were safe from that sort of bore up here. I shall
just cut down to the back and take a bite in the barn."

"Indeed you will do nothing of the sort. Do you suppose I came up to
this place, where company only arrives twice a year or so, to be that
lonesome thing a cowboy's bride, that you might slip away and take bites
in barns? No sir--not at all. You will please go upstairs, make yourself
fit to be seen, and come down and be as polite as possible. Do you
hear, Clare?"

She hooked one white finger in his buttonhole, and stood looking in his
face with a saucy gaze. Clarence yielded at once. His small despot knew
very well how to rule him and to put down such short-lived attempts at
insubordination as he occasionally indulged in.

"All right, Elsie, I'll go if I must. They're not to stay the night, are
they?"

"Heaven forbid! No indeed, they are going back to the Ute Valley."

He vanished, and presently re-appeared to conduct himself with the
utmost decorum. He did not even fidget when referred to pointedly as
"the other young man," by Mrs. Watson, with an accompaniment of nods and
blinks and wreathed smiles which was, to say the least, suggestive.
Geoff's manners could be trusted under all circumstances, and the little
meal passed off charmingly.

"Good-by," said Mrs. Watson, after she was safely seated in the
carriage, as Clover sedulously tucked her wraps about her. "It's really
been a treat to see you. We shall talk of it often, and I know Ellen
will say-- Oh, thank you, Miss Carr, you always were the kindest-- Yes,
I know it isn't Miss Carr, and I ought to remember, but somehow--
Good-by, Mrs. Page. Somehow--it's very pretty up h