lking over
their clothes. Mrs. Geoff and Mrs. Page certainly don't do that. I don't
often hear them speak about dresses, or see them at work at them; and
both of them know a great deal more about a house than I do, or any
other English girl I ever saw. Mrs. Geoff, and Mrs. Page too, can make
all sorts of things,--cakes and puddings and muffins and even bread; and
they read a good deal as well. The Americans are certainly a cleverer
people than I supposed."

The mile of distance between what Clarence called "the Hut and the
Hutlet" counted for little, and a daily intercourse went on, trending
chiefly, it must be owned, from the Hut to the Hutlet. Clover was
unwearied in small helps and kindnesses. If Imogen were cookless, old
Jose was sure to appear with a loaf of freshly baked bread, or a basket
of graham gems; or Geoff with a creel of trout and an urgent invitation
to lunch or dinner or both. New books made their appearance from below,
newspapers and magazines; and if ever the day came when Imogen felt
hopelessly faint-hearted, lonely, and over-worked, she was sure to see
the flutter of skirts, and her pretty, cordial neighbors would come
riding up the trail to cheer her, and to propose something pleasant or
helpful. Sometimes Elsie would have her baby on her knee, trusting to
"Summer Savory's" sure-footed steadiness; sometimes little Geoff would
be riding beside his mother on a minute _burro_. Always it seemed as
though they brought the sun with them; and she learned to watch for
their coming on dull days, as if they were in the secret of her moods
and knew just when they were most wanted. But they came so often that
these coincidences were not so wonderful, after all.

Imogen did appreciate all this kindness, and was grateful, and, after
her manner, responsive; still the process of what Elsie termed
"limbering out Miss Young" went on but slowly. The English stock,
firm-set and sturdily rooted, does not "limber" readily, and a bent
toward prejudice is never easily shaken. Compelled to admit that Clover
was worth liking, compelled to own her good nature and friendliness,
Imogen yet could not be cordially at ease with her. Always an inward
stiffness made itself apparent when they were together, and always
Clover was aware of the fact. It made no difference in her acts of
good-will, but it made some difference in the pleasure with which she
did them,--though on no account would she have confessed it, especially
to Elsi