signalised the event by promptly running
away immediately her head was turned homeward, and coming back down the
lane at a thundering gallop.

"Hello!" cried Nora, running out to meet them. "Why, Jane, you have been
fooling us all along. You needn't tell me this is your first ride."

"My very first," said Jane, "but I hope not my last."

"But, my dear," said Mrs. Gwynne, who had also come out to see the
return, "you are doing famously."

"Am I?" cried Jane, her face aglow and her eyes shining. "I think it is
splendid. Shall we ride again to-day, Larry?"

"Right away after breakfast and all day long if you like. You are a born
horsewoman, Jane."

"Weren't you afraid when Polly ran off with you like that?" inquired
Nora.

"Afraid? I didn't know there was any danger. Was there any?" inquired
Jane.

"Not a bit," said Nora, "so long as you kept your head."

"But there really was no danger, was there, Larry?" insisted Jane.

"None at all, Jane," said Nora, "I assure you. Larry got rattled when
he saw you tear off in that wild fashion, but I knew you would be all
right. Come in; breakfast is ready."

"And so am I," said Jane. "I haven't been so hungry I don't know when."

"Why, she's not plain-looking after all," said Nora to her mother as
Jane strode manlike off to her room.

"Plain-looking?" exclaimed her mother. "I never thought her
plain-looking. She has that beauty that shines from within, a beauty
that never fades, but grows with every passing year."

A council of war was called by Nora immediately after breakfast, at
which plans were discussed for the best employment of the three precious
days during which the visitors were to be at the ranch. There were so
many things to be done that unless some system were adopted valuable
time would be wasted.

"It appears to me, Miss Nora," said Dr. Brown after a somewhat prolonged
discussion, "that to accomplish all the things that you have suggested,
and they all seem not only delightful but necessary, we shall require at
least a month of diligent application."

"At the very least," cried Nora.

"So what are we going to do?" said the doctor.

It was finally decided that the Browns should extend their stay at
Lakeside House for a week, after which the doctor should proceed to the
coast and be met on his return at Banff by Jane, with Nora as her guest.

"Then that's all settled," said Larry. "Now what's for to-day?"

As if in answer to that question a honk