"We are all so modern, we seem out of place in this wilderness," said Thorpe. "I can hardly accept the prophecy of your father and other prominent men here, that San Francisco will one day be the great financial and commercial centre of Western America. It seems to me as hopeless as making cake out of bran." "Just you wait," said Nina, tossing her head. "It will come in our time, in my father's time. You haven't got the feel of the place yet, haven't got it into your bones. And you don't know what we Californians can do, when we put our minds to it." "I hope I shall see it," he replied, smiling; "I hope to see California at many stages of her growth. I am a nomad, you know, and I shall make it the objective point of my travels hereafter. The changes--I don't doubt if they come at all they will ride the lightning--will interest me deeply. May there be none in you," he added, gallantly. "I cannot imagine any." Her eyes drooped, and her underlids pressed upward,--a repellant trick that had made Thorpe uncomfortable more than once. "That is where you will find the changes upon which the city will not pride itself," she said. "Fortunately, there won't be many of them." "You are unfair," he said, angrily. "You told me to ask you no questions, and this is not the first time you have deliberately pricked my curiosity--that is not the word, either. The first night I dined at your house--" he stopped, biting his lip. He had said more than he intended. "I know. You thought you had discovered the secret--I know exactly what you thought. But you have come to the conclusion since that there is more behind. Well, you are right." "What is your secret? I have had opportunities to discover. I hope I need not tell you that I have shut my ears; but I wish you would tell me. I don't like mystery. It is sensational and old-fashioned. Between such friends as ourselves, it is entirely without excuse. It is more than possible that, girl-like, you have exaggerated its importance, and you are in danger of becoming morbid. But, whether it is real or imaginary, let me help you. Every woman needs a man's help, and you can have all of mine that you want. Only don't keep prodding my imagination, and telling me not to think. I am close upon thinking of nothing else." "Well, just fancy that that is my way of making myself interesting; that I cannot help flirting a little, even with friends." She laughed lightly; but her face, which was not always under her control, had changed: it looked dull and heavy. "That is pure nonsense," he said, shortly. "Do you suppose you make yourself more interesting by hinting that your city will one day be ashamed of you?" "Ah, perhaps _that_ was an exaggeration." "I should hope so." "I meant one's city need not know everything." "You are unpleasantly perverse this morning. I choose to take what you said as an exaggeration; but there is something behind, and I feel strongly impelled to say that if you don't tell me I shall leave."