hen she had
returned from seeing Jane on her way with Nora and Mr. Wakeham.

"My dear Sybil, you waste your pity," said her brother. "That young lady
is so attractive that one forgets whether she is plain or not. I can't
quite explain her fascination for me. There's perfect sincerity to begin
with. She is never posing. And perfect simplicity. And besides that she
is so intellectually keen, she keeps one alive."

"I just love her," said Kathleen. "She has such a good heart."

"You have said it," said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, "and that is why Jane will
never lose her charm."

CHAPTER XVII

THE TRAGEDIES OF LOVE

When the week had fled Dr. Brown could hardly persuade himself and his
hosts at Lakeside Farm that the time had come for his departure to the
coast. Not since he had settled down to the practice of his profession
at Winnipeg more than twenty years ago had such a holiday been his.
Alberta, its climate, its life of large spaces and far visions, its
hospitable people, had got hold of him by so strong a grip that in
parting he vowed that he would not await an opportunity but make one to
repeat his visit to the ranch. And so he departed with the understanding
that Jane should follow him to Banff ten days later with her friend
Nora.

The ten days were to Jane as a radiant, swiftly moving dream. Yet with
so much to gratify her, one wish had remained ungratified. Though from
early morning until late night she had ridden the ranges now with one
and now with another, but for the most part with Larry, Jane had never
"done the mine."

"And I just know I shall go away without seeing that mine, and Winnipeg
people will be sure to ask me about it, and what shall I say? And I have
never seen that wonderful secretary, Mr. Switzer, either."

"To-morrow," said Larry solemnly, "no matter what happens we shall have
you see that mine and the wonderful Mr. Switzer."

It was the seeing of Mr. Switzer that brought to Jane the only touch of
tragedy to the perfect joy of her visit to Alberta. Upon arrival at
the mine she was given over by Larry to Mr. Switzer's courteous and
intelligent guidance, and with an enthusiasm that never wearied, her
guide left nothing of the mine outside or in, to which with painstaking
minuteness he failed to call her attention. It was with no small degree
of pride that Mr. Switzer explained all that had been accomplished
during the brief ten weeks during which the mine had been under his
care. For a