eyes, and spoke in the hushed tones of her soft voice. Geoff felt that it
was there, and it comforted him. The poor fellow was very lonely in those
days, and inclined to be homesick, as even a manly man sometimes is.

"What an awful time Adam must have had of it before Eve came!" growled
Clarence, that evening, as they sat around the fire.

"He had a pretty bad time after she came, if I remember," said Clover,
laughing.

"Ah, but he had _her_!"

"Stuff and nonsense! He was a long shot happier without her and her old
apple, I think," put in Phil. "You fellows don't know when you're well
off."

Everybody laughed.

"Phil's notion of Paradise is the High Valley and Sorrel, and no girls
about to bother and tell him not to get too tired," remarked Clover. "It's
a fair vision; but like all fair visions it must end."

And end it did next day, when Dr. Hope appeared with the carriage, and the
bags and saddles were put in, and the great bundle of wild-flowers, with
their stems tied in wet moss; and Phil, torn from his beloved broncho, on
whose back he had passed so many happy hours, was forced to accompany the
others back to civilization.

"I shall see you very soon," said Clarence, tucking the lap-robe round
Clover. "There's the mail to fetch, and other things. I shall be riding in