nto his eyes, with a daring, challenging
expression. "And you heard me discussing your amiable attributes? I'm
sorry, but"--with a swift gleam--"I do discuss something else
sometimes."

"I heard nothing," he answered, returning her direct gaze, and stood
aside for her to pass.

XI

AN EVENING RIDE

As they rode home in the evening Diana, more nettled with Carew's
impassivity than she would have cared to own, contrived to get a
little apart from the others with her uncle, and in her frank,
engaging way explained to him the rapaciousness of certain mining
companies and her own promise on behalf of the donkeys. Mr. Pym
regretted that he could not immediately grant her request without
consulting his co-directors, but Diana knew perfectly, by the friendly
gleam in his eye, that he meant to look into the question; and because
he was impressed by the sturdy, plucky fight of the two brothers he
would probably do a good deal more for them in the end.

After which she prattled to him gaily, until Stanley was clever enough
to distract her attention and remanipulate the party. He had been
riding with Carew, and the engineer with Meryl; but on the party being
disarranged the engineer joined Mr. Pym to discuss the mining
properties they had been visiting, and Carew found himself unavoidably
partnered with Meryl, while Stanley and Diana went gaily on ahead. It
was the first time, what he was pleased to term "his luck" had
deserted him. Heretofore there had been no single _tete-a-tete_
between him and either of the cousins since Diana surprised him in the
temple ruins. It was his fixed intention that there should be none. He
argued in himself that he had no "small talk" in his vocabulary, and
would only reciprocate the boredom he would himself suffer, and rather
than either should be inflicted he steered a resolute course which
partnered him with a man. In vain Diana, spurred by pique, had once or
twice laid a trap for him; and Meryl, with growing interest, had
sought to draw him into conversation. With masterly art he had steered
clear of both, and continued his serene, impassive way.

But on that homeward ride Fate, for once, got the better of him.
Stanley and Diana were cantering gaily ahead along the narrow path,
that meant smooth-going for one horse and a stumbling amid small rocks
or long, dry grass for the other; while Mr. Pym and his engineer
conversed with a solemnity no one could lightly disturb between the
t