Was she like her mother? No, he said, she was not in the least like her mother; he did not see that she took after anybody in particular. Then, as if to escape the subject, was her Uncle Nicholas as rabid a teetotaller as ever? He liked best to hear about her school days and of the gay doings of the past year, her first year of "society." "And you don't like society?" he asked at last, with a quizzical glance at her pretty profile. She had turned her eyes from the contemplation of his face, and seemed to be conjuring up interesting visions out of the darkness. "Yes, I do!" she said with decision. "You won't get much society out here," he remarked, and his spirits rose again. Of course she would be bored to death without it. "I like some things better than society," she replied. "For instance?" She turned her face full upon him, and boldly said, "You." "The deuce you do!" he cried, and was instantly conscious that it was the second time that he had forgotten himself. A little crinkle appeared in the silhouette of a cheek, and she said, "I do like to hear you say 'the deuce.' I don't believe Uncle Nicholas ever said 'the deuce' in his life." "Nick was always a bore," Stanwood rejoined, more pleased with the implied disparagement of his pet aversion than with the very out-spoken compliment to himself. "I think Uncle Nicholas has done his duty by me," Elizabeth remarked demurely, "but I am glad he has got through. I came of age last Monday, the day I started for Colorado." "When did you decide to come?" "About five years ago. I always meant to start on the 7th of June of this year." "You make your plans a long way ahead. What is the next step on the program?" "I haven't the least idea." "For such a very decided young lady, isn't that rather odd?" "There are some things one can't decide all by one's self." "Such as?" "The next step." "Perhaps you will find it easier after a week or two of ranching." "You don't think I am going to like ranching?" "Hardly." "Don't you like it?" "Oh, I'm an old man, with my life behind me." The lamp-light on his face was stronger than he was aware; Elizabeth saw a good deal in it which he was not in the habit of displaying to his fellow-creatures. She stooped, and patted one of the collies, and told him she thought she really ought to go to bed; upon which Stanwood rose with alacrity, and conducted her to the museum, which had been turned into a very habitable sleeping-room.