things. So she must accept it. But it hurt. It
was slowly dawning upon her that she would never
forget him.

Then another thought came to her. Since he
was going, and since she had sent him away, it
occurred to her that she ought to help him. It
seemed to be her duty. Yet she could not determine
how. He was going forth to prove himself.
He would go where men only could go, and she
was but a woman. And she wanted him to prove
himself -- she knew that -- knew it more with every
moment that passed. She believed he had it in
him. Yet she might help in some way. She
wanted to be of some use to him in his undertaking.
What could she do?

Suddenly, as she sat there, seemingly powerless,
there came a shrill nicker whipping across
from the corral -- the voice of Pat.

Like a flash she had it! Stephen would go into
the cattle country -- she believed that. And in
the cattle country he would need a horse, a
good horse, such a horse as Pat. She would
present the horse to Stephen! She would send
Pat with him because she herself could not go
with him. This she could do. Thus she would
help Stephen to find himself, as her ancestors
had found themselves. She would help him to
become what she wanted him to become -- a man
--?? a _man_! Yes, she would give Pat to Stephen.
She would send the horse as she had sent the
man -- forth into the world of deeds -- deeds
denied her sex.

[[147]]

p146 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p147w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p148

v?