“I dare you to stay!” flashed Marjorie, smiling at the childishness of it all.
“And I won’t take your dare!” he replied. “But wait! Won’t I be in the way—between you and Mr. Smith?”
It was Marjorie’s turn to blush.
“No, there’s nothing serious there, John. Kirk has cared for only one girl in all his life, and he has lost her. I don’t think anyone will ever interest him again. He’s rather nice, but he seems awfully old, and sad.”
“Poor fellow!” said John, sympathetically. All his jealousy vanished in that moment.
Marjorie longed to say something more about the Cape May girl, but she hated to pry. Rather, she would wait until John mentioned her casually; and if he avoided her in his conversation, she would know that there was something serious between them. So she began again to talk on general topics, until it was time to go in to supper.
The interest in the radio was temporarily set aside by the imminence of the Yellowstone trip. Everyone on the ranch was planning to go, so the talk at supper was of little else.
“You’re quite sure no bears will attack us?” asked Doris for perhaps the fifth time.
“No, I’m not sure,” replied Mr. Hilton. “You may be very much annoyed by some tame bears who try to steal your food.”
“I’d let them have it,” said the girl, laughingly.