The Man in Lonely Land

softly upon the pane and with her finger made on it four large letters, then rubbed them out and went back

nd I'm going to ring for tea, anyhow. Mother said I could pour it, and I'll play lady all by myse

ng it in before they come," she said. "They'll be frozen." And as Timkins disappeared

other has a headache, but I certainly am glad I can pour tea for them. I don't know why anybody wants to go horseback-riding on a day like this, though; I'd freeze." She straightened t

it be grand!" Her arms were thrown out and then hugged rapturously to her bosom; but instantly her face sobered. "He can't have her, though, because she's somebody else's. I wonder if he knows? He ought to, for Miss Robin says when he wants anything he never gives up until he gets it, and he can't get her if she's gotten. Mother says he

min

d as he reached the table he took from Dorothea's han

tly worried. "We shouldn't have gone-

up, though. They are cold." With her foot on the fender, she held out first one hand and then the other to the bla

they're painted. They d

e table, loosened the hair on her temples, and sat down on the tapestried footstool near the hearth. "

ur tea, unless you'd rather." Sh

table beautifully. When you're a real grown-up lady you wo

ess." Two lumps were put in the cup Laine hand

't know the names of the places

nd, drawing a chair closer to the fire, sat

new all the roads within twenty miles of New York in the pitch-dark. I think it's

ther log on the fire-"the roads were frozen, and to kee

n't yo

s upon keeping her horse ahead of mi

Cousin Claudia, and that's nearly a month ago. I hope it will snow fifty feet deep, so the cars can't run, and that the river will freeze so the boats can't go down it, and then you will have to stay; a

me so this

the fire. "If your wish comes true, Dorothea, I'll get an air-ship. I expected to stay t

stool at her uncle's feet, and looked up in his face. "Father says he thinks it's dow

ed away from Dorothea's eyes. "Is there not

g to act like a Christian in coming to see her regularly, and when you go he might stop acting that way. Are

ese cl

e take dinner with you. I hate foolishness about clothes, and these are the becomingest ones you wear; and, besides, at the Hunt Club you eat in them, and why can't you do it here just once? Wouldn't it be magn

can stay. She may hav

either. You look precious in those riding things, and, when you take the coat off, anybody who didn't know would think you were a

'm sorry your mother is sick.

was nothing to go to, I think she thought she'd take

out; but I have a letter to write.

iss Keith, but I accept it notwithstanding." Laine, who had risen, put his h

in and nearly forty has to have a chaperone, I guess you all will. Please don't stay long, Cousin Claudia. If you don't want to see mother, Uncle Winthrop, I'll talk to you, for after dinner I will have to go right str

as to keep her up, would we?" he asked, and smiled in the eyes turned quic

me for dinner-and I w

ut the birds we s

ance that seldom came for uninterrupted conversation, and that her unc

said. "I don't wonder you don't know where you went this afternoon if you didn't se

h a start. "Oh yes, I do.

phant. "I want to ask you something, Uncle Winthrop. I won't tell anybody." She settled herself more comfort

s handkerchief, wiped his glas

her uncle's face critically. "Your eyes are dark; and hers are light, with dark rims around the seeing part, and she just com

t th

s red and her hands were red, or if they wer

rude and tired and worried th

ur mind, for you've been here so much lately, and gone to so ma

what, D

bit. Don't you remember I asked you please to like her, and you didn't seem to think you

s clear-cut face the color crept to his templ

, and she doesn't, either. She's sees through people like they were glass, and she tells us the grandest, shiveringest, funniest stories you ever heard. I bet she's te

The trouble has been to get her to see

hat's why I think she likes you, because you aren't that sort. She hates flum talk, and you talk sense and things. She told father so. Here she is now. Pleas

. Your mother says you may take dinner with us, but she wants to see you as soon as