He shook his head and looked at her steadily--cynicism, bald derision in his gaze. "I'm sorry; but it can't be--you're too late." He dropped her hands, and she felt of the fingers where he had gripped them. She veiled the quick, savage leap in her eyes by drooping the lids. "You love Rosalind Benham," she said, quietly, looking at him with a mirthless smile. He started, and her lips grew a trifle stiff. "You poor boy!" "Why the pity?" he said grimly. "Because she doesn't care for you, Trev. She told me yesterday that she was engaged to marry a man named Corrigan. He is out here, she said. She remarked that she had found you very amusing during the three or four weeks of Corrigan's absence, and she seemed delighted because the court out here had ruled that the land you thought was yours belongs to the man who is to be her husband." He stiffened at this, for it corroborated Corrigan's words: "She is heart and soul with me in this deal, She is ambitious." Trevison's lips curled scornfully. First, Hester Keyes had been ambitious, and now it was Rosalind Benham. He fought off the bitter resentment that filled him and raised his head, laughing, glossing over the hurt with savage humor. "Well, I'm doing some good in the world, after all." "Trev," Hester moved toward him again, "don't talk like that--it makes me shiver. I've been through the fire, boy--we've both been through it. I wasted myself on Harvey--you'll do the same with Rosalind Benham. Ten years, boy--think of it! I've loved you for that long. Doesn't that make you understand--" "There's nothing quite so dead as a love that a man doesn't want to revive," he said shortly; "do you understand that?" She shuddered and paled, and a long silence came between them. The cold dawn that was creeping over the land stole into the office with them and found the fires of affection turned to the ashes of unwelcome memory. The woman seemed to realize at last, for she gave a little shiver and looked up at Trevison with a wan smile. "I--I think I understand, Trev. Oh, I am _so_ sorry! But I am not going away. I am going to stay in Manti, to be near you--if you want me. And you will want me, some day." She went close to him. "Won't you kiss me--once, Trev? For the sake of old times?" "You'd better go," he said gruffly, turning his head. And then, as she opened the door and stood upon the threshold, he stepped after her, saying: "I'll get your horse." "There's two of them," she laughed tremulously. "I came in a buckboard." "Two, then," he said soberly as he followed her out. "And say--" He turned, flushing. "You came at dusk, last night. I'm afraid I haven't been exactly thoughtful. Wait--I'll rustle up something to eat." "I--I couldn't touch it, thank you. Trev--" She started toward him impulsively, but he turned his back grimly and went toward the corral.