Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/264

 THE FIGHTING SHEPHERDESS

— that girl you brought to the corrals made me see that clearer than ever before. I might, in time, adapt my- self — I don't know. Fm not ignorant of the things one can learn from books, and Tm not dull, but it would be an experiment, and if it failed it might be like that ex- perience at the Prouty House on a larger scale, I would humiliate you and make you ashamed.'* Then, looking at him searchingly, she added: "Tell me the truth, Hughie — haven't you thought something of this your- self?" •

" I realize, of course," he admitted candidly, " that naturally there would be situations which would be dif- ficult for you at first; but what of that? You'll learn. You are more than intelligent — you have brains, and your instincts are right from first to last. I tell you I love you, and nothing else counts. I'm so sure of the result that I'm willing to risk the experiment."

Her eyes, fixed upon him, shone with pride, and there was a note of exultation in her voice as she cried:

" I hoped you would say that ! "

He smiled back :

" You're tricky, Kate. You set traps for me. But," impatiently, " go on; if your other reasons are not more serious than this — "

She looked at him speculatively and doubtfully :

" I wonder if I can make you see things from my point of view — if it's possible for you to understand how I feel. Our lives and experiences have been so different I'm afraid I shall fail. It's just this — ^" an expression of grim purpose which he saw was not new to it settled upon her face — " I've set myself a goal ; it's in sight now and I've got to reach it. If I stopped, I know that the feeling that I had been a quitter when a real temptation came to me would gnaw inside oi me xvdsSW ^^.% ^^ke<^^ and dis-