She knew that her beloved Tante was not a particularly reasonable person at any time and that Bettina had fallen from grace, not once but several times since their camping expedition. She also knew that Bettina was extremely proud and reserved, and that she would not condescend to explanations and asking forgiveness.
Peggy felt that she had rather a task before her with them both.
“I am sorry, I can’t explain now why I was delayed,” Bettina exclaimed as she came up to them. “I only wish you had not waited for me.”
Then she turned to her companion.
“Thank you, good-by,” was all she said to him.
But she did not appear penitent or even particularly chagrined at any inconvenience she may have caused the rest of the party.
Then she joined Ellen and Alice and walked down to their temporary camp below the mesa with them.
Peggy kept beside her aunt whenever the descent made it possible, but she did not talk to her a great deal, nor did she again mention Bettina.
However, Peggy realized the difficulty was not over.
Her aunt’s face was whiter than Bettina’s and her blue eyes held a coldness which was rare to them, since they were Irish eyes, usually warm and radiant and with a compelling power, which was a mark of her genius.