own values a little better -- to respect ourselves,
perhaps -- though perhaps, too, I shouldn't say it
-- a little more. Not that you lack virtues, you
Easterners, but they differ from ours -- and probably
only in kind. And exactly what your type
is you yourself have made plain to me during our
many little trips together in the saddle. And -- and
now I fear I must become even more personal,"
she broke off. "And I am very sorry that I must.
Though I know you will forgive me. You will,
won't you?" And she looked up at him wistfully.
"You thought it might benefit you to know. This
is only my opinion. Others may not see it this
way. But I am giving it for what it is, and I am
giving it only because you asked it and have asked
it repeatedly."

He roused himself. "Go on," he said, with
evident forced lightness. "I see your viewpoint
perfectly."

"Well," she resumed, hurriedly, "you lack ambition -- a
real ambition. You have ridden horses,
played tennis, idled about clubs. You were a
coddled and petted child, a pampered and spoiled
youth. You attended a dozen schools, and, to use
your own language, were 'canned' out of all of
them. Which about sums up your activities.
You have idled your time away, and you give
every promise of continuing. I regret that I must
say that, but I regret more deeply that it is true.
You have many admirable qualities. You have
the greatest of all qualities -- power for sincere
love. But in the qualities which make one ac-

[[137]]

p136 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p137w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p138

v?