"For Cherry," she said, still hanging on her bank, "isn't like
most married women. She hates self-denial and economy--Dad always
made life too easy for us, you know. It wasn't even as if she had
had my mother's example before her; she really knew nothing of
domestic responsibility!"

"But what about you," Peter asked, smiling, "you seem to take
kindly enough to matrimony!"

"My case is different," Alix said, unembarrassed, getting down to
come stand beside him at the fire. "I married an old man for his
money!"

"Do you know," he said, putting his arm about her, "I like you!
You'll no sooner get hold of your money, if you do--than you'll
want to turn it all over to Cherry! You're a devoted sister, do
you know it?"

"I'm a devoted wife!" she answered, with an upward glance. But a
second later her mood changed; she was off to try the experiment
of crossing the stream upon the treacherous surface of a fallen
tree. He watched her; her cautiously advancing foot, her hand
tightly grasping an upright branch, her eyes flitting from the
water below to the rough bridge before her. She was completely
absorbed.

"You can't do it!" Peter called, annoyed at the senseless risk she
took when she placed her foot tentatively upon the curved side of
a log. "There's no foothold there!"