But I'll be the same personality in every essential quality that
I was when I sweated over the Klappan with a hundred pounds on my back."

"I hope so," she retorted. "I don't require the shave, thank goodness,
but I certainly need a bath--and clothes. I wish I had the gray suit
that's probably getting all moldy and moth-eaten at the Pine River
cabin. I wonder if I can get anything fit to wear here?"

"Women live here," Bill returned quietly, "and I suppose the stores
supply 'em with duds. Unlimber that bank roll of yours, and do some
shopping."

She sat on the edge of the bed, regarding her reflection in the mirror
with extreme disfavor. Bill fingered his thick stubble of a beard for
a thoughtful minute. Then he sat down beside her.

"Wha's a mollah, hon?" he wheedled. "What makes you such a crosser
patch all at once?"

"Oh, I don't know," she answered dolefully. "I'm tired and hungry, and
I look a fright--and--oh, just everything."

"Tut, tut!" he remonstrated good-naturedly. "That's just mood again.
We're out of the woods, literally and figuratively. If you're hungry,
let's go and see what we can make this hotel produce in the way of
grub, before we do anything else."

"I wouldn't go into their dining-room looking like this for the world,"
she said decisively. "I didn't realize how dirty and shabby I was."

"All right; you go shopping, then," he proposed, "while I take these
furs up to old Hack's place and turn them into money. Then we'll
dress, and make this hotel feed us the best they've got. Cheer up.
Maybe it was tough on you to slice a year out of your life and leave it
in a country where there's nothing but woods and eternal silence--but
we've got around twenty thousand dollars to show for it, Hazel. And
one can't get something for nothing. There's a price mark on it
somewhere, always. We've got all our lives before us, little person,
and a better chance for happiness than most folks have. Don't let
little things throw you into the blues. Be my good little pal--and see
if you can't make one of these stores dig up a white waist and a black
skirt, like you had on the first time I saw you."

He kissed her, and went quickly out. And after a long time of sober
staring at her image in the glass Hazel shook herself impatiently.

"I'm a silly, selfish, incompetent little beast," she whispered. "Bill
ought to thump me, instead of being kind. I can't do anything, and I
don't know much, and