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"Really?" she said interestedly. "And is that supposed to
let you out?" '
He pretended to wriggle uncomfortably. "You can't turn
up here looking like a shy little coot and say that kind of
thing. I'm easily hurt! What's the good of having cash
if you don't get something out of it?"
"It's all in the outlook," she told him kindly. 'What gives
you a kick might give someone else a hangover."
"I collect an occasional hangover myself. We ought to
talk this right out, Lucie. What about a date tomorrow?"
"Can'.t be done. We're finishing the plums."
"We've got some plums you can pick. They're rotting on
the trees."
"Then you should be ashamed."
"For your sake, I could be." His voice lowered cautious-
ly. "I've never said anything like that to a girl before.
Don't make it public." He lifted a neat foot to the frame
of her chair and clasped his knee, looking at her with an
absorbed but teasing grin. "How come you and Dinah are
buddies? You're about as different as the Follies from
Shaw."
"We get along. Tell me, Mr. Torrance . . ."
"Make it Rex. My old man is Mister Torrance."
"Well, tell me, Rex what 'are the big things you get out
of life?"
He was smiling but appeared to give the question deep
thought. "My big moments all come under the heading
of pleasure, and you don't approve of pleasure . . ."
"Oh, but I do! Not your kind, perhaps but some form
of pleasure is necessary to everyone."
He threw out hands. "Then we agree about some-
thing. That's fine. Maybe we can find a tiny link between
your kind of enjoyment and mine. Let's start with moon-
light. You do like a night full of moon and stars, I sup-
pose?"
41
"Of course."
"So' do I," he said, half-seriously. "Maybe you and I
have different uses for the moonlight, but I doubt it. That's
a very pretty mouth you've got."
"And a pretty line you've got," she returned, "though
it's a little obvious. Hasn't Dinah told you that?"
"Yes, but she likes it." He leaned forward. "Will yon
go out with me to the Mohawk tomorrow evening?"
"What is it?"
"A roadhouse in the mountains, about forty miles away.
You eat, drink and dance."
"I'm sorry. I haven't the stamina of you Canadians. My
day starts at five-thirty, and when I've had a bath and a
meal at night I'm only fit to hit the hay. Take Dinah."
"I probably shall, but she doesn't make me curious, as
you do. I'm going to make myself a promise, Lucie. Before
you leave the Denman place I'm going to give you an
evening on the town and I don't mean Mohagan!"
"Why, thanks! I'll look forward to it."
Someone else drifted close and the last carload of
guests arrived. Rex beckoned Dinah and pulled up a
chair for her, after which he set his stool between the
two girls and sat facing them as if this was his idea of a
good time. Trolley loads of food were wheeled out by Matt
and a rather tall young woman who appeared to possess
a composure which was as sophisticated as her dress.
"Helen Boerman," Dinah whispered across to Lucie.
"Her father owns the biggest sawmill in the district."
"But he doesn't own Helen," put in Rex. "She's social
editor on a Vancouver newspaper. Comes out here week-
ends, to be near Matt."
Dinah wrinkle.d her nose. "She's got looks," she ad-
mitted, "but she must be on the way to thirty. A ranch
isn't her background." -
"Or yours, sweetie'," he-said, "but you like it here, near
me big tough rancher. It's only the contrast that gets you
townies. What will you have hamuburger or fried
chicken?"
While the food and coffee went the rounds there was a
good deal of talk and laughter, but the eventual pushing
away of the trolleys seemed to be a signal for splitting up.
Half a dozen people drew into a corner round a table and
42
cards were produced; a crowd went down to the paddock,
and Rex suggested that the two girls might like a short
spin down by the lake. He was actually demonstrating the
modern gadgets in his latest car when Matt approached
with his hands in, his pockets and a faint smile on his
lips.
"Two girls is hogging it," he said to Rex tolerantly.
"Leave one behind. I'll show you those puppies, Lucie."
Dinah shrugged philosophically. "I don't like dogs, any-
way," she said, and got into the front seat.
The car moved off. Lucie cast a quick glance upwards.
"When did we discuss puppies?"
"Those nephews," he elucidated. "They're over at the
cottage, and you can look them all over at once."
She walked with him across the thick green grass, said
carefully, "I can't take them on, I'm afraid. I shan't be here
long enough to be much help, anyway."
"No? Dinah said you were here for at least a month."
"Nearly a week of our time is already behind us.
Besides, I like being at the Denman farm."
"All right, don't labor it." They had passed the ranch
house and he nodded at a log dwelling about a hundred
yards away. "I built it as a guest cottage but it's not often
used. There's one large bedroom,' a lounge, a bathroom but
no kitchen. If you wanted to eat there instead of at the.
house it could be arranged. An old couple named Malloy
look after my house, and Mrs. Malloy likes to see the
boys to bed, but apart from that she finds them a handful."
Lucie slowed. "I can't take them on; you must accept
that before we go any further."
"No harm in making their acquaintance, is there?" he
' said coolly.
"Of course not. How long have they been .with you?"
"Six weeks and there's as long again to go. Their
parents are travelling by air, thank God."
She smiled. "Are they getting you down?"
"They're nice enough kids, but they're used to playing
in a house and garden. Here, they're going wild, and the
cow-hands never refuse them a thing. Mrs. Malloy spoils
them, too."
43
"It won't hurt them, for just three months." They had
reached the door of the cottage and he produced a key.
She saidjn astonishment, "Have you got them locked up?"
He smiled. "Only for these few minutes, while I fetched
you. They had their lunch here a couple of Indians
holed out in the woods."
That was what they looked like two diminutive Indians
who had been through a great deal since they had donned
their canvas trousers and feathers earlier in the day. They
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