Mr. Colter frowned and smiled.
Better than she could appreciate he understood Jeanette's intense individualism. Had he not broken away from many traditions when he had come West to live years before?
"You are right, Jeanette. Perhaps what Lina desires, or what she does, is not the important point with you. Yet there may be this side to it. I would be happier and more satisfied concerning you, were you and Lina reasonably near each other during the first years you are away from home. Lina has a quieter judgment and is less wilful and self-centered. I am not criticizing you; you possess other fine traits of character that Lina has not. You are one of the most straight-forward persons in the world, Jeanette, and one of the most honest. You have great physical courage too, dear, and I hope moral courage. A man, you see, can sometimes understand physical courage better than moral. Why are you in such a hurry to leave home? Please tell me. I can guess a few of your reasons, but I believe in a little while they will become less important.
"You have not liked my marrying again and it has prejudiced you. You are sure you never can be congenial with your stepmother and that she has separated us. So you want to go away from the old ranch and the people and things you formerly loved. Well, I can understand, only not the great haste. When you were training for the riding match I thought you and Jack were learning to like each other better. Since your success I have noticed you have avoided each other. This is Jack's fault more than yours. You see, I have been watching you both pretty carefully.
"Jeanette dear, because I care so deeply for your stepmother, don't think I am more blind to her faults than to my daughters', I have known her since she was a little girl. You are not unlike her, wilful and difficult oftentimes, but always with a high sense of honor. At first I thought she seemed almost too anxious to make friends with you girls, but of late she has not appeared sufficiently sympathetic with you. I'll talk the matter over with her, Jeanette dear. You need not mind, I shall——"
Jeanette unclasped her hands from about her own knees to clutch at her father.
"Please don't, not for anything in the world! I mean don't speak to Jack, to Mrs. Colter, or to 'mother'—anything you want me to call her. I'll call her by any name you desire, as it won't be for long. The fault is not with her. She has tried to be kind, only we don't like each other and people who don't, can't. There, that's all there is to it! Besides, I am not like her in the least. I am not honest or candid."
Jean hesitated: "I want to go away at once because I need extra preparation in order to enter one of the advanced classes. I promise to study as I never have in my life before."
Catching her hand in his, Mr. Colter drew Jeanette to her feet and toward him. He then arose.
"Suppose we walk up and down for a time, Jeanette. There is something I wish to tell you. I have been wanting to break the news and I am glad to have you as my first confidant. Maybe you will help me."