elder sister’s slow, quiet, easy acceptance of this visitor who had been honored at the courts of royalty; of that faint hint of scorn in Alfred’s voice, and his amused statement in regard to her picture and the name Majesty—­something made up of all these stung Madeline Hammond’s pride, alienated her for an instant, and then stimulated her intelligence, excited her interest, and made her resolve to learn a little about this incomprehensible West.

“Majesty, I must run down to the siding,” he said, consulting his watch.  “We’re loading a shipment of cattle.  I’ll be back by supper-time and bring Stillwell with me.  You’ll like him.  Give me the check for your trunk.”

She went into the little bedroom and, taking up her bag, she got out a number of checks.

“Six!  Six trunks!” he exclaimed.  “Well, I’m very glad you intend to stay awhile.  Say, Majesty, it will take me as long to realize who you really are as it’ll take to break you of being a tenderfoot.  I hope you packed a riding-suit.  If not you’ll have to wear trousers!  You’ll have to do that, anyway, when we go up in the mountains.”

“No!”

“You sure will, as Florence says.”

“We shall see about that.  I don’t know what’s in the trunks.  I never pack anything.  My dear brother, what do I have maids for?”

“How did it come that you didn’t travel with a maid?”

“I wanted to be alone.  But don’t you worry.  I shall be able to look after myself.  I dare say it will be good for me.”

She went to the gate with him.

“What a shaggy, dusty horse!  He’s wild, too.  Do you let him stand that way without being haltered?  I should think he would run off.”

“Tenderfoot!  You’ll be great fun, Majesty, especially for the cowboys.”

“Oh, will I?” she asked, constrainedly.

“Yes, and in three days they will be fighting one another over you.  That’s going to worry me.  Cowboys fall in love with a plain woman, an ugly woman, any woman, so long as she’s young.  And you!  Good Lord!  They’ll go out of their heads.”

“You are pleased to be facetious, Alfred.  I think I have had quite enough of cowboys, and I haven’t been here twenty-four hours.”

“Don’t think too much of first impressions.  That was my mistake when I arrived here.  Good-by.  I’ll go now.  Better rest awhile.  You look tired.”

The horse started as Alfred put his foot in the stirrup and was running when the rider slipped his leg over the saddle.  Madeline watched him in admiration.  He seemed to be loosely fitted to the saddle, moving with the horse.

“I suppose that’s a cowboy’s style.  It pleases me,” she said.  “How different from the seat of Eastern riders!”