s.

"I was only going to say that if you _do_ stay, we, that is, I--we, I
mean--shall be happy to see you here often."

"Thanks."

"The view is considered fine," faltered the girl, pulling off her gloves
in desperate embarrassment, and putting them deep down in her pocket.

Stephen began his view-remarks.

"But what I was going to say," she continued, breaking in at the first
pause, "was, that if you should stay, and need--need _horses_, or
a--guide, I wish you would apply to Mr. Head."

"They are in a conspiracy against me with their horses," thought
Stephen. Then he threw a hot shot: "Yes; Mr. Head asked me the same
thing. He also asked me not to mention that he brought me here."

"No; pray do not," said Honor quickly.

He turned and looked at her: she began to blush--pink, crimson, pink;
then white, and a very dead white too.

"You think it strange?" she faltered.

"Not at all. Do not be disturbed, Miss Dooris; I never think anything."

"Mr. Head is poor, and--and tries to make a little money now and then
with his horses," she stammered.

"So I--judged."

"And I--try to help him."

"Very natural, I am sure."

He was beginning to feel sorry for the child, and her poor little
efforts to gain a few shillings: he had decided that the Colonel's old
horses were the wagon-team of this partnership, and "Marcher" the
saddle-horse.

"I shall certainly need horses," he said aloud.

"And you will apply to Mr. Head?"

She was so eager that he forgot himself, and smiled.

"Miss Dooris," he said, bowing, "I will apply to Mr. Head, and only to
him; I give you my word."

She brightened at once.

The golden shafts of the setting sun shone full in her face: her dark
eyes did not mind them; she did not put up her hand to shield herself,
but stood and looked directly into the glittering, brilliant western
sky. He put his quizzical expression back out of sight, and began to
talk to her. She answered him frankly. He tested her a little; he was an
old hand at it. Of coquetry she gave back not a sign. Gradually the
conviction came to him that she had not asked him up there for personal
reasons at all. It was, then, the horses.

When he had decided this, he sat down on a stump, and went on talking to
her with renewed interest. After a while she laughed, and there came
into her face that peculiar brilliancy which the conjunction of dark
eyes and the gleam of white, even teeth can give to a thin-cheeked
brunette. T