“I wonder what has become of the major,” she said at length, with a little laugh. “It is too hot for fine casting, and he probably has had enough of it. After all, it really doesn’t matter that the fish won’t rise.”
She saw Weston’s smile, which made it evident that he was equally content to drift quietly through the cool shadow with the sound of frothing water in his ears. Then she wondered whether that was his only cause for satisfaction, and recognized that, if this were not the case, she had given him a lead. He did not, however, seem very eager to make the most of it.
“We might get another fish in the broken water,” he suggested. “Would you like to try?”
“No,” said Ida, “I wouldn’t.”
She was a trifle displeased with him. The man, she felt, might at least have ventured to agree with her, and there was, after all, no reason why he should insist on reminding her, in one way or another, that he was merely her canoe attendant, when she was willing to overlook that fact. She had once or twice, when it was evident that he did not know that she was watching him, seen something creep into his eyes when he glanced in her direction. He was, however, for the most part, almost unduly cautious in his conversation, and she now and then wondered whether his reticence cost him anything.
“It’s a pity it isn’t always summer afternoon,” she said.
Weston looked at her rather curiously, though for the next few moments his lips remained set. There was a good deal he could have said in that connection, but he suppressed it, as he had done more than once already when similarly tempted. He felt that if he once allowed his sentiments audible expression they might run away with him.
“Oh, yes,” he said, “I suppose it is.”
Ida wondered whether he was quite insensible to temptation, or absurdly diffident, for she had now given him two openings, and he had answered with only the tritest of remarks. She knew he was not stupid, but there were times when, for no apparent reason, he seemed suddenly to retire into his shell. She did not know that on these occasions he had laid a somewhat stern restraint upon himself.
“This land is not quite as grand as British Columbia, but I think I almost like it better,” she said. “Still, we spent a very pleasant time in the ranges.”