To Alec it seemed as if the meal would never end. He answered the questions put to him mechanically, owing to his extreme embarrassment; but he found courage toward the end of the meal to cast a sly glance in Annabel's direction—a glance not unobserved by Annabel.
Out in the hall, away from Miss North's watchful eye, he said to Blue Bonnet:
"If you ever get me into a deal like that again, you'll know it! It was worse than busting my first broncho."
And, although it was January, and the thermometer registering freezing weather, he took out his pocket handkerchief and mopped the perspiration from his neck and brow.
He made his adieux to Miss North very charmingly, however, thanking her for her hospitality; and Blue Bonnet left him at the reception-room door, conscious that broncho busting, and other things incident to ranch life, had not made any serious inroads on his native good breeding.
CHAPTER IX
WOODFORD
"Now, Carita, tell me all of it—everything you heard. Come on, I think I ought to know."