o only in novels. In
real life he is apt to be a grub."

"I'd rather be a grub than a Broadway Johnny."

"Oh, let's talk about a man," he suggested, smiling.

"But where will you find him?"

"Somewhere between your two extremes. A man's sensibilities have to be
opened to nature by training, as his mind is to books. You said it
yourself, 'he's got to use all of himself.'"

In all their days of closest intercourse, there was no hint of
sentiment. They were two good chums, off holiday making, that was all.
What might come later, what was to be their ultimate relation, this
sufficed for now. They both unconsciously protected this interim, this
breathing space, before they faced a possible upheaval in their lives.

The day was fair and the trout biting well. Barbara stood on a rock
while Paul cast in midstream below her. All at once her line went taut
and she began to play her fish. Nearer and nearer the edge of the high
rock he drew her, more and more excited she became with the struggle.
All at once Paul heard a mighty splash, and strode to the rescue. She
sat shoulder deep in the swift stream, as she had fallen, but with grim
determination she played her fish!

"Take my line while I get up!" she ordered, transferring it.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

"No, I sat down for the fun of it, Mister!" she snapped, as she got to
her feet. "Give me that!" He grinned and resigned her rod to her and
watched her land her antagonist.

"There," said she, plumping him into Paul's basket. "He was a good
fighter and a diplomat. He thought if he drowned me I'd let go."

"He was a poor judge of character," Paul remarked.

"Gee! I'm wet!" she exclaimed.

"Naturally--you swam after him. I thought you were drowned when I heard
the splash. We'd better follow Bill to camp and get you dried out."

"Oh, no, not with them biting a mile a minute," she protested.

"But you're wet to the skin."

"I won't melt."

"This isn't the last day of the world, you know. Have you got dry
clothes in your kit?"

"Shirt, but no breeches."

"Bill will have to make a fire and hang you on the line."

"I'll go, but you stay on. I'll come back when I'm dry."

"Sure you can find the way alone?"

She made a face at him. As she waded for the bank she addressed the fish
that sped by her: "Go over and bite him!" Slopping water at every step
she started for camp. When she saw he was watching her, she threw a
shower of drops with a quick turn of her bo