ee women, were viewed critically in
relation to the mountain girl. He would imagine her loveliness
enhanced by the sheen of silk, by the films of lace, by the lusters of
jewels. Josephine thought once when she appeared in a dainty evening
frock, not too daring, that she had penetrated his armor of aloofness,
for he blushed hotly as his eyes went to her neck, and his gaze fell.
She was deceived. He remembered in that moment, how he had once kissed
the soft whiteness of Plutina's throat, where the homespun gown lay
open. Now, memory of the warm bliss of that kiss sent the blood
racing and tingling.

That self-deception was as near as Josephine ever came to triumph.

Florence understood, to some extent, at least, the mood that
influenced her friend. A feminine intuition inspired in her a like
ambition to pierce this young savage's reserve. Through her own
feeling, she readily divined that of Josephine. Thus, the two became
unconfessed allies in the employment of their wiles against an
unsuspecting victim. It was, indeed, the lack of suspicion on his part
that irritated them to the point of exasperation. He was so utterly
innocent of their manoeuvers against his peace! Both of the girls were
attractive beyond the average. Josephine, a plump blonde, ingenuous of
manner, sophisticated, capricious, yet not spoiled, egotistic, but
winsome, full of electric vitality; Florence, taller and darker, with
an air more sedate, yet doubtless capable of deeper and more enduring
emotions. Each possessed excellent features, and the fascinations of
radiant health, sufficient culture, and the most exquisite refinements
of personal detail. They deserved the humble admiration of any man.
They expected tender adulation from most, and from most they received
it. At the outset a certain impassivity on the part of this wild
mountaineer excited their astonishment, then, quickly, their
dissatisfaction. They were moved to a caprice against his calm,
against this indifference that was an affront. They had no wish to
work him serious harm, but his disregard was intolerable. Since the
heart of neither was engaged, there was no jealousy between them in
the affair. Since each was secretly ashamed of her motives, there was
no confidence between them.

Their failure, in the lazy days and evenings of voyaging and of
rambling in the Bermudan islands, was undeniable. It was the more
aggravating since the young man patently admired them. Even, his
admiratio