to anything, how Imogen Young is to
be disposed of."

"We won't cross that bridge till we come to it," said Clover; but all
the same she did cross it in her thoughts many times. It is not in human
nature to keep off these mental bridges.

At the end of the fortnight Imogen returned in very good looks and
spirits; and further beautified by a pretty autumn dress of dark blue,
which Mrs. Hope had persuaded her to order, and over the making of
which she herself had personally presided. It fitted well, and set off
to admiration the delicate pink and white of Imogen's skin, while the
new warmth of affection which had come into her manner was equally
becoming.

"Why didn't you say what a pretty girl Miss Young was?" demanded Dorry
the very first evening.

"I don't know, I'm sure. She looks better than she did before she was
ill, and she's very nice and all that, but we never thought of her being
exactly pretty."

"I can't think why; she is certainly much better-looking than that Miss
Chase who was here the other day. I should call her decidedly handsome;
and she seems easy to get on with too."

"Isn't it odd?" remarked Elsie, as she retailed this conversation to
Clover. "Imogen never seemed to me so very easy to get on with, and
Dorry never before seemed to find it particularly easy to get on with
any girl. I suppose they happen to suit, but it is very queer that they
should. People are always surprising you in that way."

What with John's recently developed tendency to disappear into canyons
with Lionel Young, with the boys necessarily so occupied, and their own
many little tasks and home duties, there had been moments during the
fortnight when Clover and Elsie had found Dorry rather heavy on their
hands. He was not much of a reader except in a professional way, and
still less of a horseman; so the two principal amusements of the Valley
counted for little with him, and they feared he would feel dull, or
fancy himself neglected. With the return of Imogen these apprehensions
were laid at rest. Dorry, if left alone, promptly took the trail in the
direction of the "Hutlet," returning hours afterward looking beaming and
contented, to casually mention by way of explanation that he had been
reading aloud to Miss Young, or that he and Miss Young had been taking a
walk.

"It's remarkably convenient," Elsie remarked one evening; "but it's just
as remarkably queer. What can they find to say to each other do you
suppose?"