"O, the Indians are always making trouble, you know, on the frontier; that's what our men are there for, to watch them. I didn't mean that Evan was fighting just at this minute; but he might be, any minute. Shouldn't you feel bad if he was your brother?" "Mrs. Reverdy doesn't seem to be uneasy." "She? no," said Gertrude with a laugh; "nothing makes _her_ uneasy. Except thinking that Evan has fallen in love with somebody." "She must expect that sooner or later," said Diana, with a calmness which told her companion nothing. "Ah, but she would rather have it later. She don't want to lose Evan. She is very proud of him." "Would she lose him in such a case?" Diana asked, smiling, though she wished the talk ended. "Why, you know brothers are good for nothing to sisters after they are married--worse! they are tantalizing. You are obliged to see what you used to have in somebody else's possession--and much more than ever you used to have; and it's tiresome. I'm glad I've no brothers. Basil is a good deal like a brother, and I am jealous of _him_." "It must be very uncomfortable to be jealous," said Diana, "Horrid! You saw a good deal of Evan, didn't you?" A question that might have embarrassed Diana if she had not had an instant perception of the intent of it. She answered thereupon with absolute self-possession, "I don't know what you would call a 'good deal.' I saw what _I_ call a good deal of him that day in the blackberry field." "Don't you think he is charming?" Diana laughed, and was vexed to feel her cheeks grow warm. "That's a word that belongs to women." "Not to many of 'em!" said Gertrude, with a slight turning up of her pretty nose. Then, struck with the fine, pure face and very lovely figure before her, she suddenly added, "Didn't he think you charming?" "Are you laughing at me?" said Diana. "No, indeed I am not. Didn't he?" said Gertrude caressingly. Amusement almost carried off the temptation to be provoked. Diana laughed merrily as she answered, "Do you think a person of so good taste would?" "Yes, I do," said Gertrude, half sulkily, for she was baffled, and besides, her words spoke the truth. "I am sure he did. Isn't life very stupid up here in the mountains, when visitors are all gone away?" "I don't think so. We never depend upon visitors." "It has been awfully slow at Elmfield since Mr. Knowlton went away. We sha'n't stay much longer. I can't live where I can't dance." "What is that?" said a voice close at hand--a peculiarly clear, silvery voice. "Cousin Basil!" cried Gertrude, starting. "What did you come here for? I brought Miss Starling here to have a good talk with her." "Have you had it?" "I haven't had time. I was just beginning." "What! about dancing?" "I was not speaking for you to hear. I was relieving myself by the confession that I can't live--happily, I mean--without it." "Choice of partners immaterial?" "I couldn't bear a dull life!" "Nor I."