The girl looked up. Seth's kindness had banished the ready laugh for the moment. If her tongue remained silent her eyes spoke. But Seth was concerned with his food and saw nothing. Rosebud did not even tender thanks. She felt that she could not speak thanks at that moment. Her immediate inclination was a childish one, but the grown woman in her checked it. A year ago she would have acted differently. At last Seth broke the silence. "Say, Rosebud," he said. "How'd you like a heap o' dollars?" But the girl's serious mood had not yet passed. She held out her plate to General, and replied, without looking at her companion. "That depends," she said. "You see, I wouldn't like to marry a man with lots of money. Girls who do are never happy. Ma said so. The only other way to have money is by being clever, and writing, or painting, or play-acting. And I'm not clever, and don't want to be. Then there are girls who inherit money, but----" "That's jest it," broke in Seth. "Just what?" Rosebud turned from the dog and eyed her companion curiously. "Why, s'pose it happened you inherited them dollars?" "But I'm not likely to." "That's so. But we know your folks must a' been rich by your silk fixin's. Guess you ain't thought o' your folks." The girl's sunburnt face took on a confident little smile as she looked out from under the wide brim of her hat. "Oh, yes, I have. I've thought a lot. Where are they, and why don't they come out and look for me? I can't remember them, though I try hard. Every time I try I go back to Indians--always Indians. I know I'm not an Indian," she finished up naively. "No." Seth lit his pipe. "Guess if we did find 'em you'd have to quit the farm." There was a short silence. "Seth, you're always looking for them, I know. Why do you look for them? I don't want them." Rosebud was patting the broad back of General. "Do you know, sometimes I think you want to be rid of me. I'm a trouble to you, I know." "'Tain't that exactly." Seth's reply sounded different to what he intended. It sounded to the girl as if he really was seeking her parents to be rid of her. And his manner was so deliberate, so short. She scrambled to her feet without a word, and began to gather up the dishes. Seth smoked on for a moment or two. But as Rosebud showed no sign of continuing the conversation he, too, rose in silence, and went over to Hesper and hitched her to the buckboard. Then he came back and carried the dinner-box to the vehicle, while Rosebud mounted to the driving-seat. "Seth," she said, and her face was slightly flushed, and a little sparkle of resentment was in her eyes, "when you find them I'll go away. I never looked at it as you do. Yes, I think I should like that heap of dollars." Seth smiled slowly. But he didn't quite understand her answer. "Wal, you see, Rosebud, I'm glad you take it that aways. You see it's better you should go. Yes, much better."