"Then you have never shot anybody in British Columbia!"
Carroll laughed, as if this greatly pleased him, but Vane's face was rather grave as he answered her.
"No; I'm thankful to say that I haven't. In fact, I've never seen a shot fired, except at a grouse or a deer."
"Then the West must be getting what the Archdeacon—he's Flora's husband, you know—calls decadent," the girl sighed.
"She's incorrigible," Mrs. Chisholm interposed with a smile.
Carroll leaned toward Mabel confidentially.
"In case you feel very badly disappointed, I'll let you into a secret.
When we feel real, real savage, we take the ax instead."
Evelyn fancied that Vane winced at this, but Mabel looked openly regretful.
"Can either of you pick up a handkerchief going at full gallop on horseback?" she inquired.
"I'm sorry to say that I can't; and I've never seen Wallace do so,"
Carroll laughed.