nds at once. I suppose if I don't get a lot better pretty
soon I will have to give up in the end and let Jim sell, since everybody
wants to except me and I know they want to do it on my account."

For a few minutes Jack tried to find solace in the pages of her
discarded book, but she sighed so heavily that the leaves fluttered.

"It's the dullest thing I ever read in my life," she said resentfully.
"How I hate stories about wooden girls, who never have adventures or
excitement in their lives, but just go to sewing circles and nice little
picnics, where grown people preach to them about feminine ideals! It's
like that tiresome poem, 'Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be
clever,'--as though one couldn't be good and clever too! There is no
special glory in being good just because you are dull, and I sha'n't be
any longer," Jack announced, flinging her book against the wall of the
rancho with all the force she could muster.

"What's the matter, Jack?" Frank Kent asked, suddenly appearing around a
corner of the house. "Do you wish anything?"

Jack had the grace to laugh at herself, though her eyes were filled
with tears. "No, there is nothing really the matter, Frank. I am not in
pain nor anything like that," she answered, "so you need not look so
sympathetic. I have just been feeling sorry for myself because all of
you were wicked enough to take a walk about the dear old ranch when I
could not go with you. And I used to think Elizabeth Harmon dreadfully
silly when she was cross or complained. You see, I am finding out it is
much easier to preach than to practice."

"Why, Jack, you didn't think we would be horrid enough to desert you,"
Frank protested. "It is rather my fault that you have been by yourself
this long. Jean and Olive and I talked things over and thought it would
be all right, so I sent them off for a walk with Donald Harmon and I
slipped up to the Lodge and borrowed Elizabeth's cart. How would you
like to drive down to Rainbow Creek and see if we can find the others?"
Frank suggested casually, as though his request was a perfectly ordinary
one.

Jack stared at him in amazement, her face radiant with pleasure, and
then she shook her head nervously. She never had been farther than the
front porch since her arrival at the rancho and now felt afraid to make
the attempt.

"I don't think I dare try it, Frank," she returned wearily.

"All right. What shall we do--read or play cards or just talk?" he
deman