"Perhaps they talk about other things when we're not around," suggested Lassie, wisely.
"I hadn't thought of that. Or perhaps they think the trains our only mutual interest. You know, Lassie, there really is no one that is stupid, unless you do your half towards being stupid, too. It's like the crash in the wilderness, which doesn't mean sound unless there are ears to hear it."
"I never thought of that," said Lassie; "isn't there really any sound in the wilderness? What happens when the tigers roar?"
"But of course they do talk about other things here," Alva continued, paying no attention to her friend's flippancy. "They talk about the dam, and they talk about me."
"What do you suppose they say about you?" Lassie asked, curiously.
"I know exactly what they say," Alva replied, a real amusement curling her lips; "they say that Ronald and I are going to be married and live in that house while he builds the dam."
"Oh!"
"Yes, indeed."
"But I didn't know that the dam was decided on."
"It isn't, my dear, and I don't believe myself that there ever will be any dam. I can't believe that this State, even in her grossest materialism, will have the face to accept a royal gift and then turn around and give it away in direct contradiction of the terms of its acceptance."