"Quite likely," returned Bert seriously—then all at once thinking of something, he abruptly extracted a photograph from his inside jacket-pocket, and passed it to his companion.
"What d'you think of that young lady—for a rancher's wife?" he asked.
Esther examined the picture with careful interest.
"I think she is a very strong-minded girl," she said coolly, as she returned the portrait.
"You are absolutely right—she is. She's my cousin."
Esther requested another glimpse of the photograph.
"Hasn't she lovely features?" she said. "And her eyes are simply wonderful. Married, I suppose?—but I think you said so, or——"
"Yes, married, thank God! the day before we left Liverpool."
Esther returned the picture to its owner. All at once she felt generously inclined towards the original.
"She's the loveliest girl I've ever seen—in a photograph, of course. How lucky her husband must think himself!"