owed softly with the tang of
it.

"Quite lovely!" said a voice behind her, and Desire turned to find her
solitude shared by the young old lady from Golden.

"Your complexion, I mean, my dear," said she, sitting down comfortably
in the folds of a fur coat. "I never use adjectives about the
mountains. It would seem impertinent. How old are you?"

Desire gave her age smiling. "Charming age," nodded the old lady.
"Youth is a wonderful thing. See that you keep it."

"Like you?" said Desire, her smile brightening.

The old lady looked pleased.

"Quite so," she said. "Never allow yourself to believe that silly folly
about a woman being as old as she looks. As if a mirror had more mind
than the person looking in it! I remember very well waking up on the
morning of my thirtieth birthday and thinking, 'I am thirty. I am
growing old.' But, thank heaven, I had a mind. I soon put a stop to
that. 'Not a day older will I grow!' I said. And I never have. What's a
mind for, if not to make use of?"

Desire looked a little awed at an audacity which defied time.

"Don't misunderstand me," went on her companion. "I don't mean that I
tried to look young. I was young. I am young still."

"Yes," said Desire. "I see what you mean. But--wasn't it lonely?"

The old lady patted her arm with an approving hand.

"Clever child!" she said. "Yes, of course it was lonely. But one can't
have everything. Pick out what you want most and cling to it. Let the
rest go. It's a good philosophy."

"Isn't it selfish?"

"Youth is always selfish," complacently. "I feel quite complimented now
when anyone calls me a selfish creature. You are a bride, aren't you?"

Desire blushed beautifully. But one couldn't resent so frank an
interest.

"Yes," she said.

"That thin, dark man is your husband? The one with the chin?"

"He has a chin," doubtfully. "Oh, I see what you mean. Yes, he is my
husband."

"Odd you never noticed his chin before," commented the old lady. "Well,
look out! That man has reserves. Who is the other one?"

"A friend."

The old lady shook a well-kept finger.

"Inconvenient things, friends!" said she. "Far better without them."

"Haven't you any?"

"Not one. They went on. All old fogies now." Her air of boredom was
unfeigned.

"But you have your daughter."

"Too old!" The youthful eyes twinkled maliciously. "Now you, my dear,
would be nearer my age. For you have youth within as well as without.
Keep it. It's all there i