"I ever met who would make a fit heroine
for a book."

"Then you will not feel under obligations
to educate her, as you insinuated the other
day?"

"Educate her! I only hope she will
help me to unlearn some of the things I
know. I never saw such simplicity. It is
antique!"

"You're sure it's not mere vacuity?"
"Victor! How can you? But you haven't
talked with her. You must to-morrow.
Good-night." She gathered up her trail-
ing skirts and started down the corridor.
Suddenly she turned back. "For Heaven's
sake!" she whispered, in an awed tone,
"I never even noticed what she had on!"

The next morning early we made up a
riding party, and I rode with Mrs. Brainard.
She was as tall as I, and sat in her saddle
as if quite unconscious of her animal. The
road stretched hard and inviting under our
horses' feet. The wind smelled salt. The
sky was ragged with gray masses of cloud
scudding across the blue. I was beginning
to glow with exhilaration, when suddenly my