at breakfast in the big clap-b

ust be taken into account that the same qualities manifest themselves d

d continually. Colina, by virtue of her reckless ho

render, "if you're determined to stay here

ominous gleam shot fro

y way of living?" she ask

day hunting with this man and that-and spending the night in native ca

" murmured Colin

tation in the community just the same as anywhere else-more, indeed; we live in a

coffee. Colina played

atively speaking, I occupy an exalted position now. I am the head of all things, such as they are

e game as they say. What I object to is your impulsiveness, your outspokenness with the people. Remember, everybody here is your de

of any lack of affability or friendliness in dealing with

Colina, "but I'm not

id her fathe

I must be allowed to do it in my own way. I'm an adult and an individual. I differ from you. I've a right to differ from you. It is because these peopl

reserve," murmu

levelly. "Dad, what a fool you

ed again, and po

indignant gl

have known mother-you ought to understand me a little but you won't try-you're clever enough in everything else

this. "I'll have to bring in

a. "Anything but that! Wh

girls," said Gaviller; "t

get along at school," m

as well sen

said her father severely. "Y

at did you come north for in the

his guard. "A natural love of adven

said Colina. "Was y

see her drift. "No

rsisted, "didn't my mother run away north w

saint!" cried Gav

not the psalm-singing kind. What do yo

viller, banging the table-la

e simply raising a dust to conceal

his mustache in

into a prim miss, to sit at home and work embroidery?" she demanded. "Upo

ith great dignity and removed the top. "Don't

utterly. She smiled winningly. "Dad, if you'd only let me be myself

to act like a harum-sc

r sarca

g in me," she went on seriously. "I don't know what it is-some wild strain; something that dr

one of the others; and be interested in what I'm doing, and come home tired and sleep without dreaming-why everything is

flung up

aunt," he said grimly. "The responsibi

nobody but myself! Why won't you understand that! I don't know exactly what dangers you fancy are threatening me. If it is from me

l have to go back

gether. "You make me think you simply want

You know I love to have yo

nt on enthusiastically. "It suits me. I like its uglinesses and its hardships, t

've always lived in the north, you old innocent-you don't know! Men, for instance, in society they have a cur

cried her father. "Men

get very far. And no man ever tried it twice. Up her

ttling you in life," s

o one for y

. I'll choose one when I'm ready. I can't see anything in men except as comrades. The decent ones are timid with women,

, and she wore one from morning till night. She was as tall as a man of midd

said G

nd," she said, laughing over her shoulder and

a had this trick of breaking things off in the mid