"Nonsense!" Jeanette interrupted.
Via continued: "I was trying to make up my mind the real reason. Surely the silver arrow could not have brought you evil fortune rather than good! You were first to touch it and the arrow belonged to you until you decided to form a club and offer it as the prize."
Via smiled. Her smile always changed her face completely, affording it a beauty she did not at other times possess.
"Of course I do not think the arrow is in any way responsible, Jeanette! I do think, however, that you first changed because of your prejudice against father's marrying again. Later on there was something else. I never have understood exactly; it occurred only a few weeks ago. Since then you have not cared a great deal for any member of your family. I have watched you and——"
Jeanette's eyes flashed. Nothing is simpler than a pretense of anger to save one from an accusation in which there is truth.
"I hate being spied upon, Via, and you are well aware of it. Of course I have realized that you have been watching me and thinking things about me. It is you have changed toward me, not I toward you." The older girl shrugged her shoulders. "It does not make any difference; if you can be influenced against me, I had just as soon you would be. Of course I know who is responsible. Mrs. Colter, or Jack, as you and Lina absurdly call her, never has liked me any better than I do her. I am not in the dark. I know she has done everything in her power to estrange all of you from me, including father. Suppose we do not discuss the subject. I don't know how I am going to be able to arrange it, but I shall not remain at home much longer."
"You are unfair, Jeanette," said Via. "The worst of it is that you really know you are being unfair. This is what has troubled me about you of late, dear. You used to have a greater sense of justice and fair play than any one of us, and Lina and Eda and I always depended upon this characteristic in you more than any other. Since the day of the riding contest——"
"Look, Via, and stop talking. Tell me instead if I am dreaming."
Jeanette suddenly arose to her feet and stood close beside her sister, pointing ahead.
Bounding down a side of the cliff they beheld a young Indian boy of about sixteen or seventeen. He was the color of light bronze, with strong, regular features and straight black hair, falling below his ears. He wore fringed leather trousers, a gayly colored shirt and about his head the circle of feathers.