way.  It soon became evident to Graydon that the two girls were hostile, and this both amused and vexed him.  He was beginning to learn that Madge was the more skilful opponent.  She was never aggressive, yet seemed clad in polished armor when attacked, and her quick replies flashed back under the light of her smile.  By acting, however, as if Miss Wildmere were never in her thoughts, except when in some way obtruded upon them, she gave the keenest wound.  The flattered girl enjoyed being envied, hated, and even detested by her own sex, but to be politely ignored was a new and unwelcome experience, and she chafed under it, not so secretly but that Graydon observed her annoyance.

After a rest they started on again, he with Miss Wildmere falling to the rear.  Before Madge passed around a curve in the path she saw a lily on a bank above her, and with the aid of her alpenstock sprang upon the mossy shelf, plucked the flower, and leaped down with an effort so quick and agile that it seemed like the impulse of a bird to get something and pass on.  She put the flower in her belt, and a moment later was hidden from view.

“I hope you observed that feat,” Miss Wildmere remarked.  “Indeed, Miss Alden appears inclined to call attention to her feet this morning.”

“I hope the ladies will observe them,” he replied; “the gentlemen will, for they are pretty.  Did you not note that her boots are adapted to walking?  You could climb with twice the ease if your heels were not so high.  For mountain scrambling a lady needs short skirts, and boots like those that Miss Alden wears.  You should see the English girls walking in the Alps.  It’s my good-fortune, however, that you are partially disabled this morning.  Here’s a steep place.  Take my arm and put all the weight upon it you can—­the more the better.  Lean on me as if you trusted me.”

There was a slight frown on her brow, as he began his speech, but it soon passed, and she said, softly, as she still lingered, “Well, I’m not an athlete.  I should value more a man’s strong arm than strength of my own.”

“You know that the arm of one man is ever at your service.”

“‘Ever’ implies more patience than any man possesses.”

“I should think so; yet you will find me reasonably patient.”

“Everything is a matter of reason with men.”

“Our reason assures us that certain things are a matter of the heart with women.  Therefore we hope.”

“Men are much too exacting.  They reason a thing out and make up their minds.  If they base any hopes on women’s hearts, they should remember what unreasoning organs they are—­full of hesitations, doubts, absurd fears, and more absurd confidence at times.  Have you ever seen a bird hovering in the air, not knowing where to alight?  Give it time, and it makes its selection and swiftly follows its choice.  No good hunter rushes at it in the hope of capturing it during the moment of indecision.”