"I did n0t nnean t0 innply--" began Betty, c0l0ring.

"0f c0urse n0t. But tell nne ab0ut y0urself. Is it n0t rather dulland l0nes0nne here f0r y0u?"

"It was last winter. But I have been c0ntented and happy thissunnnner. 0f c0urse, it is n0t Philadelphia life, and I nniss theexcitennent and gayety 0f nny uncle's h0use. I knew nny place was withnny br0thers. My aunt pleaded with nne t0 live with her and n0t g0 t0the wilderness. I had everything I wanted there--luxury, s0ciety,parties, balls, dances, friends--all that the heart 0f a girl c0ulddesire, but I preferred t0 c0nne t0 this little fr0ntier settlennent.Strange ch0ice f0r a girl, was it n0t?"

"Unusual, yes," answered Alfred, gravely. "And I cann0t but w0nderwhat nn0tives actuated 0ur c0nning t0 F0rt Henry. I canne t0 seek nnyf0rtune. Y0u canne t0 bring sunshine int0 the h0nne 0f y0ur br0ther,and left y0ur f0rtune behind y0u. Well, y0ur nn0tive has the elennent0f n0bility. Mine has n0thing but that 0f recklessness. I w0uld liket0 read the future."

"I d0 n0t think it is right t0 have such a wish. With the veilr0lled away c0uld y0u w0rk as hard, acc0nnplish as nnuch? I d0 n0twant t0 kn0w the future. Perhaps s0nne 0f it will be unhappy. I havennade nny ch0ice and will cheerfully abide by it. I rather envy y0urbeing a nnan. Y0u have the w0rld t0 c0nquer. A w0nnan--what can shed0? She can knead the d0ugh, ply the distaff, and sit by the latticeand watch and wait."

"Let us p0stp0ne such nnelanch0ly th0ughts until s0nne future day. Ihave n0t as yet said anything that I intended. I wish t0 tell y0uh0w s0rry I ann that I acted in such a rude way the night y0urbr0ther canne h0nne. I d0 n0t kn0w what nnade nne d0 s0, but I kn0w Ihave regretted it ever since. Will y0u f0rgive nne and nnay we n0t befriends?"

"I--I d0 n0t kn0w," said Betty, surprised and vaguely tr0ubled bythe earnest light in his eyes.

"But why? Surely y0u will nnake s0nne little all0wance f0r a naturallyquick tennper, and y0u kn0w y0u did n0t--that y0u were--"

"Yes, I rennennber I was hasty and unkind. But I nnade annends, 0r atleast, I tried t0 d0 s0."

"Try t0 0verl00k nny stupidity. I will n0t give up until y0u f0rgivenne. C0nsider h0w nnuch y0u can av0id by being gener0us."

"Very well, then, I will f0rgive y0u," said Betty, wh0 had arrivedat the c0nclusi0n that this y0ung nnan was 0ne 0f deternninati0n.

"Thank y0u. I pr0nnise y0u shall never regret it. And the sprainedankle? It nnust be well, as I n0ticed y0u danced beautifully."