to work ourselves up to
be civil to strangers." "No," she went on gayly, in answer to his
protesting gesture, and his stammered reminder of his own reception.
"No. You came as a sort of kinsman, and Sir Edward knew all about you
before he asked you down to the Grange--or even sent over for me from
the Towers. No! you Americans take people on their 'face value,' as
my brother Reggy says, and we always want to know what are the
'securities.' And then American men are more gallant, though," she
declared mischievously, "I think you are an exception in that way.
Indeed," she went on, "the more I see of your countrymen the less you
seem like them. You are more like us,--more like an Englishman--indeed,
more like an Englishman than most Englishmen,--I mean in the matter of
reserve and all that sort of thing, you know. It's odd,--isn't it? Is
your sister like you?"

"You shall judge for yourself," said Peter with a gayety that was forced
in proportion as his forebodings became more gloomy. Would his sister's
peculiarities--even her secret--be safe from the clear eyes of the young
girl?

"I know I shall like her," said Lady Elfrida, simply. "I mean to make
friends with her before we leave, and I hope to see a great deal of her;
and," she said with a naive non sequitur, that, however, had its painful
significance to Peter, "I do want you to show me some Indians--your
Indians, you know YOUR friends. I've seen some of them, of course; I
am afraid I am a little prejudiced, for I did not like them. You see
my taste has to be educated, I suppose; but I thought them so foolishly
vain and presuming."

"That is their perfect childishness," said Peter quickly. "It is not, I
believe, considered a moral defect," he added bitterly.

Lady Elfrida laughed, and yet at the same moment a look of appeal that
was in itself quite as childlike shone in her blue eyes. "There, I
have blundered again, I know; but I told you I have such ridiculous
prejudices! And I really want to like them as you do. Only," she laughed
again, "it seems strange that YOU, of all men, should have interested
yourself in people so totally different to you. But what will be the
result if your efforts are successful? Will they remain a distinct race?
Will you make citizens, soldiers, congressmen, governors of them? Will
they intermarry with the whites? Is that a part of your plan? I hope
not!"

It was a part of Peter's sensitive excitement that even through the
unconsci