"O, Major Carew!..." with a quick gleam in his eyes. "I thought him rather a fine fellow. Don't you?" and he smiled at her slyly.
"A fine bear," quoth Diana, with a little pout. "I prefer a man with a little more flexibility. A little more commonplace flesh and blood, so to speak."
"I asked him to dinner to-morrow," her uncle remarked.
"And is he coming?" with ill-concealed interest.
"No. He is going to see two young miners named Macaulay a few miles away, and was regretfully compelled to decline," and the humorous smile on his face widened, for he knew that Diana would be piqued.
"As if he couldn't go there any day!" she grumbled. "O, of course, he is perfectly odious."
Meryl's eyes met her father's, and they both laughed, while he remarked, "Never mind; perhaps we can lay a trap for him another time. Evidently he has no particular fancy for ladies' company."
"Do you know the Macaulays?" Meryl asked.
"No, but I am going to see them in two or three days on business."
"And you will take us?..." she pleaded. "I do want so to see all we can of the settlers as well as the country."