Page:An orchard princess (IA orchardprincess00barbiala).pdf/188

 *bling, Hunter; I dare say I can take my medicine with a grin—after a day or so. But just now"—he shook his head bewilderedly—"just now I'm all in a heap. The whole thing—seeing her—falling in love—and this note—has been so darned sudden! I feel—well, I sort of feel as though I had been bucked from a broncho and had come down hard!"

"Sorry, Miles," grunted Hunter. "And of course there's nothing I can say."

"No, I guess not, thanks, old chap."

"Except to tell you to take it as decently as you can and not to lose hope altogether. Women are plaguey uncertain, Miles; you can't tell; I've seen queer things in my time."

Miles gave a shake to his shoulders and stood up.

"For a bachelor, Hunter," he said,