n the
wilds," sighed Cynthia, stepping daintily over a puddle, and looking
down with concern to see if perchance there was a splash on her boots.
"Boys have much the best of it; they have a chance of doing something
great in the world, while girls have to stay at home and--darn their
socks! All the great things are done by men--in war, in science, in
discovery, even in art and literature, though a few women may equal them
there. All the great things are made by men, too, the wonderful
cathedrals and buildings, and the great bridges and battleships--all the
big things. There's so little left for us."

Miles looked at her beneath drawn brows, his rugged face softening with
the smile that Betty loved to see.

"And who makes the men?" he asked simply, and Cynthia peered at him in
startled, eager fashion, and cried--

"You mean--_we_ do? Women, mothers and sisters and wives? Is _that_
what you mean? Oh, I _do_ think you say nice things!" (Shy, silent old
Miles being accused of saying "nice things" to a member of the opposite
sex! Wonders will never cease!) "I shall remember that, next time I see
a lucky boy pass by rattling the railings, and looking as if the world
belonged to him, while I must stand behind the curtains, because it's
not `lady-like' to stare out of the windows! I do ramp and rage
sometimes!"

Miles' laugh rang out so merrily that Betty turned to stare in
amazement. The idea of Cynthia doing anything so violent as "ramp and
rage" seemed impossible to realise, as one looked at her dainty figure
and sweet pink-and-white face. All the same it was a pleasure to find
that she did not belong to the wax-doll type of girl, but had a will and
a temper of her own.

"Yes, you may laugh," she cried, laughing herself, "but it's quite true.
Or perhaps it would be more `lady-like' to say that I feel like `a
caged bird,' as people do in books. In future I shall console myself
with the thought that I may be the lever which supplies the force. Is
that simile right, or ridiculously wrong? It's rash of me to use
engineering terms before you. I mean that I'll try to be a good
influence to some man, and so inspire work, if I can't do it myself.
The worst is, I know so few men! Father is abroad, all our relations
are far away, and until I come out I seem to meet nothing but girls, old
and young. Of course, if I got to know you better, I might influence
_you_!"

She turned her laughing face upon him, the fac