"Let us wait at this camp and watch the birds," she said, as an ostrich hen
came bounding toward them with velvety wings outstretched, while far away
over the bushes the head of the cock was visible as he sat brooding on the
eggs.

Lyndall folded her arms on the gate bar, and Waldo threw his empty bag on
the wall and leaned beside her.

"I like these birds," she said; "they share each other's work, and are
companions. Do you take an interest in the position of women, Waldo?"

"No."

"I thought not. No one does, unless they are in need of a subject upon
which to show their wit. And as for you, from of old you can see nothing
that is not separated from you by a few millions of miles, and strewed over
with mystery. If women were the inhabitants of Jupiter, of whom you had
happened to hear something, you would pore over us and our condition night
and day; but because we are before your eyes you never look at us. You
care nothing that this is ragged and ugly," she said, putting her little
finger on his sleeve; "but you strive mightily to make an imaginary leaf on
an old stick beautiful. I'm sorry you don't care for the position of
women; I should have liked us to be friends; and it is the only thing about
which I think much or feel much--if, indeed, I have any feeling about
anything," she added, flippantly, readjusting her dainty little arms.
"When I was a baby, I fancy my parents left me out in the frost one night,
and I got nipped internally--it feels so!"

"I have only a few old thoughts," he said, "and I think them over and over