formal nature of their meeting, he would ease that
informality, yet did not know precisely how.

Yet Helen found herself quite comfortable in
his society now, and, permitting herself great freedom,
she spoke almost with levity.

"You have asked me a difficult question," she
said. "Offhand I should say you must ride every
morning, sleep some part of the early afternoon,
and -- oh, well, ride the next morning again, I
reckon." And she smiled across at him. "Are
you thinking of staying with us?"

He nodded soberly. Then he went on. "What
else must one do?" he asked. "Is that all?" His
eyes were still twinkling.

Helen herself was sober now. "No," she
replied, "not quite. One must think a little,
work a little, do a little good. We are very close
together down here -- very close to one another -- and
very, very far from the rest of the world. So
we try to make each day register something of
value, not alone for ourselves, but for our neighbors
as well." She was silent. "We are a distinct
race of people," she concluded, after a moment.

He turned his head. "I like all that," he declared,
simply. "Though I'm afraid I won't do -- much
as I dislike to admit it. You see, I've
never learned to live much in the interest of
others." He regarded her with steady eyes.

Helen liked him for that, too. Evidently he had
had too much breeding, and, from his remark, knew
it. So she took it upon herself at least to offer
him encouragement.

[[82]]

p081 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p082w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p083

v?