and presently Learned
Counsel found himself climbing up to the seat beside Eve; beside the
Temptress who, he made no manner of doubt, had come to put an end to
Paradise.

But ah! she was Eve enough for any Eden--a tall girl, rounded, firm
formed, with a mass of good brown hair, and a frank gray eye, and a
regular and smooth forehead. Her garb was a cool, gray serge, and, a
miracle here in this desert, it was touched here and there with
immaculate white, how, after that cruel ninety miles, none but a woman
might tell. A cool, gray veil was rolled about her hatbrim. Her
hands, shapely and good, were gloved in gray. Her foot, trim and well
shaped,--for even a desolate pariah might note so much,--was shod in no
ultra fashion, but in good feminine gear with high and girlish heels,
all unsuited to gravel and slide-rock, yet exceeding good, as it seemed
at that time. The girl raised her eyes, smiling frankly. There was no
cold cream traceable. The first thought of Learned Counsel was that
her complexion would brown nicely under sunburn; his second thought was
that he had on overalls,--a fact which had escaped him for more than
four years.

If Eve, new come within Heart's Desire, felt any surprise, or if she
even experienced any pique at the calm deportment of Dan Anderson, she
masked it all and put all at ease with a few words spoken in that
manner of voice which is an excellent thing in woman. In a sort of
dream the coach trundled on up the street, to pause for half an instant
in front of the commercial emporium of Whiteman the Jew. Whiteman came
out with his hat above his head, and said, "Velgome."

The girl looked backward down the street as they turned to cross the
_arroyo_ beyond which stood the house of the Kansas family, where Curly
lived. The off mule limped. "Poor little fellow," she said; "I wanted
them to stop. They have no pity--"

"No," said Learned Counsel to her, "there is no such thing as pity in
all the world." She fell silent at this, and looked back once more,
unconsciously, down the street, as one who would gladly pity, or be
pitied. But soon the coach was at Curly's house, and there came out to
meet it, already forewarned of her guest, the Littlest Girl, wiping her
hands on her apron, which means Welcome on the frontier.

The Littlest Girl, uncertain and overawed by her visitor, came forward
and took a first look. Then she suddenly held out her arms; and
Constance Ellsworth, from the E