Firmstone looked at the paint-smudged fingers of Élise. "You refused my help in square root, and are taking lessons in painting from Miss Hartwell." "Miss who?" Firmstone was astonished at the change in the girl's face. "Miss Hartwell," he answered. Élise rose quickly to her feet. Brush and pencil fell unheeded from her lap. "Are you related to that Hartwell at the mill?" she demanded. "He is my brother." Fierce anger burned in the eyes of Élise. Without a word, she turned and started down the trail. Miss Hartwell and Firmstone watched the retreating figure for a moment. She was first to recover from her surprise. She began to gather the scattered papers which Élise had dropped. She was utterly unable to suggest an explanation of the sudden change that had come over Élise on hearing her name. Firmstone was at first astonished beyond measure. A second thought cleared his mind. He knew that Hartwell had been going of late to the Blue Goose. Élise, no doubt, had good grounds for resentment against him. That it should be abruptly extended to his sister was no matter of surprise to Firmstone. Of course, to Miss Hartwell he could not even suggest an explanation. They each were wholly unprepared for the finale which came as an unexpected sequel. A delicate little hand, somewhat smudged with paint, was held out to Miss Hartwell, who, as she took the hand, looked up into a resolute face, with drooping eyes. "I got mad before I thought, and I've come back to tell you that it wasn't right." Miss Hartwell drew the girl down beside her. "Things always look worse than they really are when one is hungry. Won't you share our lunch?" With ready tact she directed her words to Firmstone, and she was not disappointed in finding in him an intelligent second. Before many minutes, Élise had forgotten disagreeable subjects in things which to her never lacked interest. At parting Élise followed the direct trail to the Blue Goose. As Firmstone had hoped, another series of lessons was arranged for. CHAPTER XVI _An Insistent Question_