tly stern, but the movement had served
two purposes, for her own was now invisible.

"And you fancied you could dispense with common courtesy in my case?"
she said.

Alton made a little grave gesture of deprecation. "I wanted to see
you--very much--but please sit down."

Nellie Townshead took the chair he drew out, and was glad that it was
in the shadow, for Alton stood leaning against the window-casing
looking down on her with grave respect and pity in his face.

"I am a little lame--as you may have heard," he said, as though to
explain his attitude.

"Yes," said the girl, whose composure returned as she saw that he was
temporizing. "I am sorry."

"Well," said Alton quietly, "so am I--especially just now--but I did
not come to talk to you about my injury."

Nellie Townshead appeared very collected as she glanced in his
direction, for she had a good courage, and had been taught already that
when an issue is unavoidable it is better to face it boldly.

"One would scarcely have fancied that was your object."

"No," said Alton very quietly. "Now I am just a plain bush rancher,
and don't know how to put things nicely, but I don't know that there's
any disrespect in a straight question, and I came to ask if you would
marry me."

The girl was mistress of herself, and the man's naive directness was in
a fashion reassuring. She was also, for a moment, very angry.

"It is a little sudden, is it not?" she said. "Did I ever give you any
cause for believing that I would?"

"No," said Alton, "I don't think you did."

Nellie Townshead afterwards wondered a little at her composure and
temerity, but she fancied she knew what had prompted the man, and,
because it hurt her horribly, all the pride she had came to her
assistance, and in place of embarrassment she was sensible of a desire
to test him to the uttermost.

"Then," she said, "one should have a reason for asking such a question,
and, at least, something to urge in support of it."

Alton moved forward, and leaned over the back of her chair, where
because he did most things thoroughly he attempted to lay one hand
caressingly on her hair. Miss Townshead, however, moved her head
suddenly, and the man drew back a pace with a flush in his face.

"It is very lonely up at the ranch, and I have begun to see that I have
been missing the best of life. Mine is too grim and bare, and I want
somebody to brighten and sweeten it for me."

The girl was very collected.