But Max did not. There was a slight wrinkle between his brows, but she saw it and smiled. "You can't scold me, though, can you?" she asked. "That is right, for it would be no use. I know you would say that in your set it would not be proper for a girl to do such independent things. But you see, I do not belong to any set. I have just been telling this dear little lady, who is trying to look stern, some of the reasons why society life and I can never agree. But I have found several reasons why Art life and I should agree perfectly. I like the freedom of it--the study of it. And, even if I never accomplish much, I shall at least have tried my best." "But, Montana, it is not as though you had to learn such things," pleaded Miss Seldon. "You have plenty of money." "Oh, money--money! But I have found there are a few things in this world money can not buy. Art study, little as I have attempted, has taught me that." Lyster came over and sat beside her by the window. "'Tana," he said, and looked at her with kindly directness, "can the Art study give you that which you crave, and which money can not buy?" Her eyes fell to the floor. She could not but feel sorry to go against his wishes; and yet-- "No, it can not, entirely," she said, at last. "But it is all the substitute I know of, and, maybe, after a while, it will satisfy me." Miss Seldon took Margaret from the room on some pretext, and Lyster rose and walked across to the other window. He was evidently much troubled or annoyed. "Then you are not satisfied?" he asked. "The life that seemed possible to you, when out there in camp, is impossible to you now." "Oh, Max! don't be angry--don't. Everything was all wrong out there. You were sorry for me out there; you thought me different from what I am. I could never be the sort of girl you should marry--not like Margaret--" "Margaret!" and his face paled a little, "why do you speak of her?" "I know, if you do not, Max," she answered, and smiled at him. "I have learned several things since I came here, and one of them is Mr. Haydon's reason for encouraging our friendship so much. It was to end any attachment between you and Margaret. Oh, I know, Max! If I had not looked just a little bit like her, you would never have fancied you loved me--for it was only a fancy." "It was no fancy! I did love you. I was honest with you, and I have waited patiently, while you have grown more and more distant until now--" "Now we had better end it all, Max. I could not make you happy, for I am not happy myself." "Perhaps I--" "No, you can not help me; and it is not your fault. You have been good to me--very good; but I can't marry any one." "No one?" he asked, looking at her doubtfully. "'Tana, sometimes I have fancied you might have cared for some one else--some one before you met me."