"Well—I think perhaps he never saw any one like you before," he said quietly.
"But he hates you!"
"Naturally!"
"Why?" she demanded again—and was immediately sorry she had spoken.
Garth looked away. "He thinks I am—I am more than I am," he said oracularly.
She affected not to hear this. "What shall we do about him?" she asked.
"He won't trouble us after the Landing," said Garth. "He is bound down the river to Lake Miwasa, while we go up to Caribou Lake."
"It's a precious good thing for me I didn't start off alone," she said feelingly.
"I'm glad if I've won your confidence a little," said Garth hanging his head.
This meant: "Aren't you going to tell me about yourself?" Natalie's mystery had been a thorn in his flesh all the way along the road. He was ashamed to speak of it, for seeming to imply a doubt of her; but he couldn't help approaching it in this roundabout way.