breaking in upon the low, constrained tones of
the young man.

Pat held his ears steadily back. He noted that
her voice was well under control, and she appeared
to be answering the young man. Also, it was
quite evident that she was not accepting his argument,
whatever it was. Yet her voice took on
many delicate changes. Sometimes he heard a
note of pleading; again, mild exasperation; and
once a falling inflection which hinted at sadness.
So it continued, his mistress talking as he had
never heard her talk before, until the group ahead
drew rein and wheeled, indicating their intention
of returning. Then once more the voice of his
mistress changed suddenly and became light, even
gay, leaving Pat, as he himself was turned around,
a very much mystified horse.

Yet this gaiety did not last. When they were
well on their way back toward the ranch, with the
sun higher and brighter in the heavens, and the trail
correspondingly whiter and more dazzling to the
eye, he found himself listening to grave tones again -- the
voice of the young man. He talked steadily
now, his flow of words always tense, though occasionally
interrupted by the other with a quiet
rejoinder. Then suddenly he ceased altogether,
and Pat, acutely conscious of the silence which
descended upon them, was relieved when it was
broken by sounds of laughter ahead. Still the
pair above him did not speak. Each appeared
to be adrift on a sea of thought the like of which
he had never known. And it continued, this omi-

[[129]]

p128 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p129w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p130

v?