“Oh, you needn't mind,” she said, after a moment. “That was the only place I cared for, here, so now there will be nothing to regret when I go away.” “Are you going away, then? I'm very sorry to hear it; but of course I'm not surprised. You couldn't be expected to stand it another year; those children must have been something fearful.” “Oh, it wasn't the children.” “Well, I'm sorry. I had hoped”-- “Yes,” said she, with a modest interrogation, as he hesitated, “what is it you had hoped?” “That I might indirectly be the means of making your life less lonely here. You remember that 'experiment' we talked about at the spring?” “That _you_ talked about, you mean.” “I am going to try it myself. Not because you were so encouraging,--but--it's a risk anyway, you know, and I'm not sure the circumstances make so much difference. I've known people to be wretched with all the modern conveniences. I am going East for her in about two weeks. How sorry she will be to find you gone! I wrote to her about you. You might have helped each other; couldn't you stand it, Miss Newell, don't you think, if you had another girl?” “I'm afraid not,” she said very gently. “I _must_ go home. You may be sure she will not need me; you must see to it that she doesn't need--any one.” They were walking back and forth on the hill. “I was just looking for the cottonwood-trees; are they gone too?” she asked. “Oh yes; there isn't a tree left in the cañon. Don't you envy me my work?” “I suppose everything we do seems like desecration to somebody. Here am I making history very rapidly for this colony of ants.” She looked down with a rueful smile as she spoke. “I wish you had the history of the entire species under your foot, and could finish it at once.” “I'm not sure that I would; I'm not so fond of extermination as you pretend to be.” “Well, keep the ants if you like them, but I am firm on the subject of the camp children. There _are_ blessings that brighten as they take their flight. I pay my monthly assessment for the doctor with the greatest cheerfulness; if it wasn't for him, in this climate, they would crowd us off the hill.” “Please don't!” she said wearily. “Even _I_ don't like to hear you talk like that; I am sure _she_ will not.” He laughed softly. “You have often reminded me of her in little ways: that was what upset me at the spring. I was very near telling you all about her that day.”