"Please don't, Cecil. You are not being fair to me and besides will make Via more unhappy. I was horrid to you during the beginning of our acquaintance and you have been awfully kind of late to behave as if you had forgiven me. The truth is that I was so intensely disagreeable at the time that you only came in for a share of my unpleasantness. You know there were other persons who suffered more. But mother and father have decided to forget the past, so you might as well. However, I don't ask that you admire me. That is too much to expect! Besides I am a Ranch Girl and shall always love this Western country better than you have any right to. You see, I was born and brought up here, while you are the newest kind of a tenderfoot. I don't want to go East, I know I shall detest boarding school and weep every night for the ranch. It was sweet of your mother to give up Rainbow Castle to the family. I am sure she decided to go back to New York earlier than she had planned, so we might move back into our own home after the fire at the lodge. Alas, I said 'we,' yet I shall not be there for the present. You don't believe what Cecil said, do you, Via?"
The other girl shook her head.
"I am not sure, Jeanette. Of course I know you are devoted to all of us, but I don't think you mind going away half so much as we do giving you up."
"Come, no comparisons, Via," Cecil returned, "else I shall be forced to mention the obvious fact that you have me to take Jeanette's place. I have no thought of posing as a Ranch Girl, yet I'll be a fairly good substitute, especially as your father has agreed to let me work for him this winter. I am to acquire a little practical knowledge of ranch life. I don't expect my work will amount to a great deal, but I'll manage to be at the Rainbow Ranch every minute I am free. I suppose one has to keep on at one's books now and then."
Cecil paused and colored.
Jeanette was accustomed to the fashion in which his fair skin reddened when an emotion stirred within him.
At this instant, thrusting his hand into his pocket, he drew forth a long, slender box.
"Please don't open this until you are out of the State of Wyoming, Jeanette, one hour across the border, then you may.
"If we were not friends at the beginning of our acquaintance this will, I hope, make you believe that I was in earnest when I said a few moments ago that I admired you very much at present. Who knows, I may admire you even more some day? In any case I am glad you and mother are such friends. She has always wished for a daughter and you'll do fairly well. I could not have let her go back to New York without me, unless you had been with her. She will have you to be interested in this winter and to take my place."
Jeanette's eyes rested curiously upon the slender box, carefully wrapped and tied.