d quickly.

"I look for nothing worse," he said.

"Perhaps my appearance is too conspicuous," she suggested with a
humility new to her.

"A little, perhaps," Garth admitted.

"What shall I do?" she said. "I have nothing else."

"At the Landing I will dress you in a rough sweater, and a felt hat
strapped under your chin," he said with a smile.

Natalie was aggrieved. "I like to look nice," she protested.

"You would--even then," said poor Garth.

She changed the subject. "What a gross beast that big man is!" she said
strongly.

"Poor devil!" said Garth unconsciously. He understood from his own
feelings a little of what Nick was going through.

Natalie turned a surprised face on him. "Are you sorry for him?" she
demanded.

"A little."

"Why?"

"Well--I think perhaps he never saw any one like you before," he said
quietly.

"But he _hates_ you!"

"Naturally!"

"Why?" she demanded again--and was immediately sorry she had spoken.

Garth looked away. "He thinks I am--I am more than I am," he said
oracularly.

She affected not to hear this. "What shall we do about him?" she asked.

"He won't trouble us after the Landing," said Garth. "He is bound down
the river to Lake Miwasa, while we go up to Caribou Lake."

"It's a precious good thing for me I didn't start off alone," she said
feelingly.

"I'm glad if I've won your confidence a little," said Garth hanging his
head.

This meant: "Aren't you going to tell me about yourself?" Natalie's
mystery had been a thorn in his flesh all the way along the road. He
was ashamed to speak of it, for seeming to imply a doubt of her; but
he couldn't help approaching it in this roundabout way.

Natalie understood. "I'll tell you now, gladly," she said at once. "But
not here; there isn't time. We have to get in directly."

This was precisely what Garth desired her to say. He longed for her to
want to tell him; but for the story itself, he dreaded it, and was quite
willing to have the telling deferred.

Later in the day they reached Nell's house, quite a fine edifice built
with lumber instead of the usual logs. Natalie, true to her word,
allowed herself to be shown through; and did not stint her admiration
of Nell's treasures. When they drove on, she looked back with a genuine
feeling for the old girl, who was so anxious to please. They left her
standing in the doorway in her finery, with the sullen, black-browed
bravo slouching beside her.

The way became very