of him to
find expression; for capable young woman though she was, Flora Schuyler
sometimes blundered.

"The song was worth the effort," she said. "Mr. Clavering is, however,
evidently willing to do a good deal to give folks pleasure."

Clavering glanced at her with a little smile. "Folks? That means more than
one."

"Yes; it generally means at least two."

Hetty laughed as she looked round. "Is there anybody else he has been
giving music to?"

"I fancy the question is unnecessary," Flora said. "He told us he came
straight here, and there is nobody but you and I at Cedar he would be
likely to bring anything to."

"Of course not! Well, I never worry over your oracular observations. They
generally mean nothing when you understand them," said Hetty.

Flora Schuyler smiled maliciously at Clavering. She did not know that when
a good deed hung in the balance she had, by rousing his intolerance of
opposition, just tipped the beam.

XX

HETTY'S OBSTINACY

It was very cold, the red sun hung low above the prairie's western rim,
and Clavering, who sat behind Hetty and Miss Schuyler in the lurching
sleigh, glanced over his shoulder anxiously.

"Hadn't you better pull up and let me have the reins, Miss Torrance?" he
said.

Hetty laughed. "Why?" she asked, "I haven't seen the horse I could not
drive."

"Well," said Clavering drily, "this is the first time you have either seen
or tried to drive Badger, and I not infrequently get out and lead the team
down the slope in front of you when I cross the creek. It has a very
awkward bend in it."

Hetty looked about her, and, as it happened, the glare of sunlight flung
back from the snow was in her eyes. Still, she could dimly see the trail
dip over what seemed to be the edge of a gully close ahead, and she knew
the descent to the creek in its bottom was a trifle perilous. She was,
however, fearless and a trifle obstinate, and Clavering had,
unfortunately, already ventured to give her what she considered quite
unnecessary instructions as to the handling of the team. There had also
been an indefinite change in his attitude towards her during the last week
or two, which the girl, without exactly knowing why, resented and this
appeared a fitting opportunity for checking any further presumption.

"You can get down now if you wish," she said. "We will stop and pick you
up when we reach the level again."

Clavering said nothing further, for he knew that Miss Torrance