Vane of the Timberlands by Harold Bindloss
page 43 of 389 (11%)
page 43 of 389 (11%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
pond; and you'll have her all to yourselves. Carroll and I are going to
camp ashore." He paddled them off to the boat. Coming back with some blankets, he cut a few armfuls of spruce twigs in a ravine and spread them out beside the fire. Then sitting down just clear of the scented smoke he lighted his pipe and asked an abrupt question. "What do you think of Kitty Blake?" "She's attractive, in person and manners." "Anybody could see that at a glance!" "Well," Carroll added cautiously, "I must confess that I've taken some interest in the girl--partly because you were obviously doing so. In a general way, what I noticed rather surprised me. It wasn't what I expected." "You smart folks are as often wrong as the rest of us. I suppose you looked for cold-blooded assurance, tempered by what one might call experienced coquetry?" "Something of the kind," Carroll agreed. "As you say, I was wrong. There are only two ways of explaining Miss Blake, and the first's the one that would strike most people. That is, she's acting a part, possibly with an object; holding her natural self in check, and doing it cleverly." Vane laughed scornfully. |
|