ives over there," she said. "I'm
going to see him some day. I guess he'll be glad, don't you?"

"Who wouldn't?" said Merefleet. "But that's not the West, you know."

"No," she said simply. "He's in the Land beyond the sea, Big Bear." And
with a strange little smile into his face, she drew the shawl closer
about the child in her arms and disappeared into Quiller's cottage.

There was something in this interview that troubled Merefleet
unaccountably. But when he saw her again, her mirth was brimming over,
and he thought she had forgotten.

CHAPTER IX

It was about a week after this conversation that Merefleet, invited by
Seton, joined his two friends at _table d'hote_ at their table. The
suggestion came from Mab, he strongly suspected, for she seconded Seton's
proposal so vigorously that to decline would have been almost an
impossibility.

"You look so lonely there," she said. "It's miles nicer over here. What's
your opinion?"

"I agree with you, of course," said Merefleet, with a glance at Seton
which discovered little.

"Isn't he getting polite?" said the American girl approvingly. "Say,
Bert! I guess you'll have to take lessons in manners or he'll get ahead
of you."

Seton smiled indulgently. He was this girl's watch-dog and protector. He
aspired to be no more.

"My dear girl, you will never make a social ornament of me as long as you
live," he said.

And Mab patted his arm affectionately.

"You're nicer as you are, dear boy," she said. "You aren't smart, it's
true, but I give you the highest mark for real niceness."

Seton's eyes met Merefleet's for a second. There was a touch of
uneasiness about him, as if he feared Merefleet might misconstrue
something. And Merefleet considerately struck a topic which he
believed to be wholly impersonal.

"By the way," he said, "I had an American paper sent me to-day. It may
interest you to hear that Ralph Warrender has resigned his seat in
Congress and married again."

"What?" said Seton.

"My!" cried Mab, with a shrill laugh. "That is news, Mr. Merefleet!"

Merefleet glanced at her sharply, his attention arrested by something he
did not understand. Seton pushed a glass of sherry towards her, but he
was looking at Merefleet.

"News indeed!" he said deliberately. "Is it actually an accomplished
fact?"

"According to the _New York Herald_," said Merefleet.

Mab's face was growing whiter and whiter. Seton still leant over the
table, striving with al