"I shall be glad to come to your meeting of the Club of the Silver Arrow, although I do not expect to be here when the Arrow is bestowed upon one of us." Suddenly Jeanette reached this conclusion.
"I told you I intended to go to boarding school next fall, but only this morning I decided to ask father to allow me to leave very soon. There must be lots of places where I could stay for a short time, before school opens. I suppose I shall feel as out of place in the East as you when you arrived out here."
Jeanette's manner had never been more friendly. She looked attractive, too, with her color, her eyes darker than usual, her chin rounder and more appealing.
Notwithstanding, Cecil turned away.
"Oh, I guess not, Jeanette. You are not such a baby as I was to start with. If you will excuse me I will go on to the ranch. I want to see Lina and Mrs. Colter. They have asked me to lunch. Will you come along now?"
The girl shook her head. Her lips trembled slightly, but her companion did not observe this.
"No, I shall probably not be back before dinner. Please mention the fact if any one inquires for me. I presume no one will. I am the outsider in the family now, even Via is no longer faithful and prefers some one else. Good-by."
An instant Cecil Perry suffered an impulse to turn back and speak frankly to Jeanette.
He then changed his mind and went on his way.