her up
and see. I'm privileged, anyway, you know. Cousins can do anything. I'll
tell her we're hungry."

So it came about that an hour after Gila had sat in the firelight with
Courtland and listened, puzzled, to his reverent talk of a
soul-friendship, she ushered into the same room her cousin and Tennelly.
She met Tennelly with a challenge in her eye.

Tennelly had one in his. Their glances lingered, sparred and lingered
again, and each knew that this was a notable meeting.

For Tennelly was tall and strikingly handsome. He had those deep black
eyes that hold a maiden's gaze and dare a devil; yet there was behind
his look something strong, dashing, scholarly. Gila saw at once that he
was distinguished in his way, and though her thoughts were strangely
held by Courtland she could not let one like this go by unchallenged. If
Courtland did not prove corrigible, why, there was still as good fish in
the sea as ever was caught. It were well to have more than one hook
baited. So she received Tennelly graciously, boldly, impressively, and
in three minutes was talking with that daring intimacy that young people
of her style love to affect; and Tennelly, fascinated by her charms, yet
seeing through them and letting her know he saw through them, was
fencing with her delightfully. He told himself it was his duty for
Courtland's sake. Yet he was interested for his own sake and knew it.
But he did not like the idea of Court and this girl! They did not fit.
Court was too genuine! Too tender-hearted! Too idealistic about women!
With himself, now, it was different. He knew women! Understood this one
at a glance. She was "a peach" in her way, but not the "perfect little
peach" Court ought to have. She would flirt all her life and break old
Court's heart if he married her.

So he laughed and joked with Gila, answering her challenging glances
with glances just as ardent, while Bill Ward sat and watched them both,
chuckling away to himself.

And Courtland, on his knees, talked with God!

The next morning Courtland awoke with a pleasant sensation of eagerness
to see what life had in store for him. Was this really the wonderful
experience of love into which he had begun to enter? He thought of Gila
all in halos now. The questionings and unpleasantnesses were forgotten.
He told himself that she would one day see and understand the wonderful
experience through which he had been passing. He would tell her just as
soon as possible. Not to-