The young lady matched two edges together, smoothed them, eyed the result critically, and plied a nimble needle. Then she turned clear and guileless eyes on her glooming seatmate.
“You look older, somehow, than I thought you were, now that I remember,” she observed, biting the thread. “You’ve been away, haven’t you?”
“Thought you were going away, yourself, so wild and fierce?” said Jeff, evading.—Been away, indeed!
Ellinor threaded her needle.
“Mamma was talking of going for a while,” she said tranquilly. “But I’m rather glad we didn’t. We’re having a splendid time here—and Mr. White’s going to take us to the White Sands next week. He’ll be down to-morrow—at least I think so. He’s fine! He took us to Mescalero early in the spring. And the young people here at Rainbow’s End are simply delightful. You must meet some of them. Listen! There they are now—I hear them. They are playing tennis. Come on up and I’ll introduce you. I can finish this thing any time.” She tossed the poor kimono into the basket.
“No,” said this unhappy young man, rising. “I believe I’ll go on back. Good-by, Miss Ell—Miss Hoffman. I wish you much happiness!”
“Why—surely you’re not going now? There are some nice girls here—they have heard so much of you, but they say they’ve never met you. Don’t you want——”
Jeff groaned, fumbling blindly at the bridle. “No, I wish I’d never seen a girl!”
“Why-y! That’s not very polite, is it?——Are—are you—mad to me?” said Ellinor in a meek little voice.
“Mad? No,” said Jeff bitterly. “I’m just coming to my senses. I’ve been dreaming. Now I’ve woke up!”