though not always
happy in expressing his feelings, and when Millicent folded her slender
hands with a pathetic sigh, he was moved to sincere pity and
indignation. He knew that some of the worthy Colonials' wives and
daughters could be, on occasion, almost brutally frank, and that, in
spite of his efforts, Leslie was not wholly popular.

"I can quite understand! It must be a trying life for you, but there
are always chances for an enterprising man in this country, and you
must hope that your husband will shortly raise you above the necessity
of enduring uncongenial social relations."

"Please don't think I am complaining." Millicent read his sympathy in
his eyes. "It was only because you looked so kind that I spoke so
frankly. I fear that I have grown morbid and said too much. But
one-sided confidence is hardly fair, and, to change the subject, tell
me how fortune favors you."

"Where shall I begin?"

Millicent smiled, as most men would have fancied, bewitchingly.

"You need not be bashful. Tell me about your adventures in the
mountains, with all the hairbreadth escapes, fantastic coloring, and
romantic medley of incidents that must be crowded into the life of
anyone engaged in such work as yours."

"I am afraid the romance wears thin, leaving only a monotonous, not to
say sordid, reality, while details of cubic quantities would hardly
interest you. Still, and remember you have brought it upon yourself, I
will do my best."

Geoffrey reluctantly began an account of his experiences, speaking in
an indifferent manner at first, but warming to his subject, until he
spoke eloquently at length. He was not a vain man, but Millicent had
set the right chord vibrating when she chose the topic of his new-world
experiences. He stopped at last abruptly, with an uneasy laugh.

"There! I must have tired you, but you must blame yourself," he said.

"No!" Millicent assured him. "I have rarely heard anything more
interesting. It must be a very hard battle, well worth winning, but
you are fortunate in one respect--having only the rock and river to
contend against instead of human enemies."

"I am afraid we have both," was the incautious answer, and Millicent
looked out across the white-flecked waters as she commented
indifferently, "But there can be nobody but simple cattle-raisers and
forest-clearers in that region, and what could your enemies gain by
following you there?"

"They might interfere with my plans or