Page:Caroline Lockhart--The full of the Moon.djvu/161

 He had not reasoned it out, but it was as true as the fact that he felt humble in Nan's presence. Nan awakened in him vague ambitions and dissatisfaction with himself and his life; she was a disturbing element, yet he was overweeningly proud of her open preference for him.

Edith untied a package from the back of her saddle and followed Nan into the dobe, where she shook out a gaudy dancing dress. "Ben likes me better in this than anything," she said complacently.

Nan vowed mentally that if the contents of her trunk could produce anything bizarre in color effects she would outdo the rainbow itself.

She owed Edith a debt of gratitude; she was not the person to forget that, but, because of Edith's attitude she reasoned, there must be some other way of liquidating the obligation than by meekly yielding her feminine prerogative to be admired.

Mrs. Gallagher, learning that Nan had changed her mind, hovered about to be sure that Nan did not fall short of what was expected of her in the matter of dress; and so,