Carmen bit her lip.  So they had talked her over together, these two, and Nick had told this woman that she would be invited to visit the Gaylor ranch!  Well, she would let them believe that she was good-naturedly playing into their hands.  She wanted, yet hated, to have them think that.

“Why, of course, Nick knows how delighted I am to get pleasant visitors,” she forced herself to say.  “I haven’t many—­and I get few other pleasures.  I’m awfully lonesome on my big ranch.  Come for as long as you can—­but even a few days will be better than nothing, if you can’t spare more.  Nick can show you his gusher—­or rather the gusher that was his; and Lucky Star City, which you’ll think queer and interesting, I expect, just as Nick does—­though it seems vulgar and hideous to me.  By the way, Nick, there’s a new school-teacher at Lucky Star.  Oh, there’s lots of news since you went away!  I shall have heaps to tell you.  Won’t you come and visit me, and be shown around by Nick, Mrs. May?”

Angela was torn between several emotions, none of which she was able clearly to define.  If she refused, it might seem ungracious, because already, half in earnest, half in play, she had partly promised Nick to go some time and have a glimpse of Lucky Star ranch and city.  Yet, less than ever did she wish to be indebted for hospitality to Mrs. Gaylor.

“Could I go for a day?” she inquired.

“You could for two days and a night,” said Carmen, “if you couldn’t give us more time.  You see, you’d have to travel all night from San Francisco to Bakersfield, or rather to Kern—­which is the same thing.  And my place is a good long drive from there, even in a motor, which I could easily hire.”

“You needn’t do that.  I’ve bought one,” Nick cut in eagerly.  “She’s in San Francisco.  I was looking forward to showing her to you.  But now I can do better.  If Mrs. May consents, I’ll ship the auto by train in advance and send the shuvver—­my assistant, I mean—­on ahead, so as to look the car over and see that she’s ready to run us all out to your ranch after we arrive at Bakersfield in the morning.  Now, aren’t you surprised at my news, Mrs. Gaylor—­that I’ve got an automobile of my own?  Or did they tell you that, among other things, at River Camp?”

“Yes, they told me,” answered Carmen, with the same praiseworthy calmness which she had been admiring in herself, and wondering at, as if it were a marvellous performance on the stage by an actress.

“Anyhow, I expect my yellow car will excite more interest at Lucky Star than a new schoolmistress,” said Nick, laughing, almost light-hearted again.  But he did not give more than a thought to the schoolmistress.  Of what possible importance could she be to him?

“Will you run over from Kern to the Gaylor ranch in his yellow car?” asked Carmen, softly and kindly, seeing that the enemy hesitated.

“Yes—­thank you both.  I will go,” Angela said.