my dear, you never can tell! Bless
you, when I was on my wedding journey, he hung around continuous. I
couldn't get shet of the man for a minute, and I was fair tired out
of seeing him. But that wears off--not that I mean it would with
you"--turning to Garth--"but nothing different couldn't hardly be
expected in the course of nature."

Garth considered whether he should stop Mrs. Pink's tongue by telling
the truth. But it seemed ungallant to be in such haste to deny the
responsibility. He felt rather that the disclaimer should come from the
girl; and she made no move; indeed, he almost fancied he saw the ghost of
a smile. Under his irritation with the woman and her clumsy tongue, he
was conscious of a secret glow of pleasure. There was something highly
flattering in being taken for the husband of such an ultra-desirable
creature. The thought of her being really one with his future, as the
woman supposed, and travelling about the country with him made his heart
beat fast. Slender, trim and mistress of herself, she had exactly the
look of the wife he had pictured.

Mrs. Pink broke off long enough to order her luncheon, and from the
extent of the order it appeared she had entirely recovered her appetite.

"The next thing I have to do after finding my man," she resumed, with
a wild pass at her hat, which lurched it as far over on the other side,
"is to find a house. They tell me rents are terrible high in Prince
George. Are you two going to settle here?"

Garth replied in the negative. He had decided if the girl did not choose
to enlighten Mrs. Pink, he would not.

"It has a great future ahead of it," she said solemnly. "It's a grand
place for a young couple to start life in. And elegant air for children.
Mine are at my mother's."

Garth swallowed a gasp at this; but the girl never blinked an eye.

"But how I do run on!" exclaimed Mrs. Pink. "No doubt you've got a good
start somewheres else."

"Not so very," said Garth with a smile.

The smile disarmed the young lady sitting opposite, and somehow obliged
her to reconsider her opinion of him. "I believe the creature has a
sense of humour," was her thought.

"Are you Canadians?" inquired Mrs. Pink politely.

"I am from New York," said Garth.

Mrs. Pink opened her eyes to their widest. If he had said Cochin China
she could not have appeared more surprised. For New York has a magical
name in the Provinces; and the more remote, the more glowing the halo
evoked by