ooked at herself in the mirror, she trembled. Magic
transformation! Apparently the chasm between the two had been bridged
in a single instant. Helen herself was astonished and again her heart
warmed toward the girl, when a little later, she stood timidly under
Hale's scrutiny, eagerly watching his face and flushing rosy
with happiness under his brightening look. Her brother had not
exaggerated--the little girl was really beautiful. When they went down
to the dining-room, there was another surprise for Helen Hale, for
June's timidity was gone and to the wonder of the woman, she was clothed
with an impassive reserve that in herself would have been little less
than haughtiness and was astounding in a child. She saw, too, that the
change in the girl's bearing was unconscious and that the presence of
strangers had caused it. It was plain that June's timidity sprang from
her love of Hale--her fear of not pleasing him and not pleasing her, his
sister, and plain, too, that remarkable self-poise was little June's to
command. At the table June kept her eyes fastened on Helen Hale. Not a
movement escaped her and she did nothing that was not done by one of the
others first. She said nothing, but if she had to answer a question, she
spoke with such care and precision that she almost seemed to be using
a foreign language. Miss Hale smiled but with inward approval, and that
night she was in better spirits.

"Jack," she said, when he came to bid her good-night, "I think we'd
better stay here a few days. I thought of course you were exaggerating,
but she is very, very lovely. And that manner of hers--well, it passes
my understanding. Just leave everything to me."

Hale was very willing to do that. He had all trust in his sister's
judgment, he knew her dislike of interference, her love of autocratic
supervision, so he asked no questions, but in grateful relief kissed her
good-night.

The sister sat for a long time at her window after he was gone. Her
brother had been long away from civilization; he had become infatuated,
the girl loved him, he was honourable and in his heart he meant to marry
her--that was to her the whole story. She had been mortified by the
misstep, but the misstep made, only one thought had occurred to her--to
help him all she could. She had been appalled when she first saw the
dusty shrinking mountain girl, but the helplessness and the loneliness
of the tired little face touched her, and she was straightway respons