The girl rose to her feet, put up both hands to her hair, and arranged the black tresses that had gone astray.
“How long have you possessed your log cabin, Mr. Steele?”
“About two months. One month I have spent round your house watching for you; but you have always left on a canter, or else that confounded groom of yours was following you, and I didn’t want to hurt him. In truth, I didn’t wish to hurt anybody.”
“Poor man! have you been lingering in the forest all that time? No wonder you look like an escaped convict.”
“Do I?” asked John in alarm, glancing down at his ragged garments. “I suppose I do. Since I came into the forest I have paid no attention to my personal appearance. Pray accept my apologies.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. I imagine you didn’t expect to meet a lady.”
“Well, I’ve been frustrated so often that I suppose I did not.”
“You are, then, my nearest neighbour? By the rights of etiquette I should have made the first call, being the older resident. I think, however, Mr. Steele, that your methods of teaching me politeness to a new-comer were somewhat rough. So, if you will excuse me, I shall not go with you to your log-cabin this evening. It is getting late; see how low the sun has sunk, and how gloriously he lights up the lake.”
“Yes,” said Steele dolefully, “it reminds me of the copper situation here.”
“It is copper that brings Mr. Nicholson to this district,” she replied brightly, “although I suppose I should not tell that to an opposing speculator.”