Dr. Brown suddenly waked up. “What is what, my dear? You will have to forgive me. This wonderful scenery, these hills here and those mountains are absorbing my whole attention. So wonderful it all is that I hardly feel like apologising to Mrs. Waring-Gaunt for ignoring her.” “Don't think of it,” said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt. “Do you know, Jane,” continued Dr. Brown, “that at this present moment you are passing through scenery of its kind unsurpassed possibly in the world?” “I was talking to Larry, Papa,” said Jane, and they all laughed at her. “I was talking to Jane,” said Larry. “But look at this world about you,” continued her father, “and look, do look at the moon coming up behind you away at the prairie rim.” They all turned about except Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, whose eyes were glued to the two black ruts before her cutting through the grass. “Oh, wonderful, wonderful,” breathed Dr. Brown. “Would it be possible to pause, Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, at the top of this rise?” “No,” said Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, “but at the top of the rise beyond, where you will get the full sweep of the country in both directions.” “Is that where we get your lake, Nora,” inquired Jane, “and the valley beyond up to the mountains?” “How do you know?” said Nora. “I remember Larry told me once,” she said. “That's the spot,” said Nora. “But don't look around now. Wait until you are told.” “Papa,” said Jane in a quiet, matter-of-fact voice, “what is it that Tom is doing?” Larry shouted. “Tom, what Tom? Jane, my dear,” said Dr. Brown in a pained voice, “does Tom matter much or any one else in the midst of all this glory?” “I think so, Papa,” said Jane firmly. “You matter, don't you? Everybody matters. Besides, we were told not to look until we reached the top.” “Well, Jane, you are an incorrigible Philistine,” said her father, “and I yield. Tom's father is a broker, and Tom is by way of being a broker too, though I doubt if he is broking very much. May I dismiss Tom for a few minutes now?” Again they all laughed. “I don't see what you are all laughing at,” said Jane, and lapsed into silence. “Now then,” cried Nora, “in three minutes.”