Years ago, when we were but seventeen, she had delighted to tease and embarrass me with her sweetly malicious coquetry, ever on the watch to observe my features redden.  I remember she sometimes offered to exchange kisses with me; but I was a ninny, and a serious and hopeless one at that, and would have none of her.

I believe we were thinking of the same thing now, and when I caught her eye the gay malice of it was not to be mistaken.

“Lanette,” said I, “take care!  I am a soldier since you had your saucy way with me.  You know that the military are not to be dealt with lightly.  And I am grown up in these three years.”

“Grown soberer, perhaps.  You always did conduct like a pious Broad-brim, Euan.”

“I’ve a mind to kiss you now,” said I, vexed.

“Kiss away, kind sir.  You have me in the rear o! them.  Now’s your opportunity!”

“Doubtless you’d cry out.”

“Doubtless I wouldn’t.”

“Wait for some moonlit evening when we’re unobserved “Broad-brim!”

I laughed, and so did she, saying: 

“I warrant you that your pretty Lieutenant Boyd had never waited for my challenge twice!”

“Best look out for Boyd,” said I.  “He’s of your own careless, reckless kind, Lanette.  Sparks fly when flint and steel encounter.”

“Cold sparks, friend Broad-brim!”

“Not too cold to set tinder afire.”

“Am I then tinder?  You should know me better.”

“In every one of us,” said I, “there is an element which, when it meets its fellow in another, unites with it, turning instantly to fire and burning to the very soul.”

“How wise have you become in alchemy and metaphysics!” she exclaimed in mock admiration.

“Oh, I am not wise in anything, and you know it, Lana.”

“I don’t know it.  You’ve been wise enough to keep clear of me, if that be truly wisdom.  Come, Euan, what do you think?  Do you and I contain these fellow elements, that you seem to dread our mutual conflagration if you kiss me?”

“You know me better.”

“Do I?  No, I don’t.  Young sir, caper not too confidently in your coat of many colours!  If you flout me once too often I may go after you, as a Mohawk follows a scalp too often flaunted by the head that wears it!”

I tried to sustain her delighted gaze and reddened, and the impudent little beauty laughed and clung to my arm in a very ecstasy of malice, made breathless by her own mirth.

“Come, court me prettily, Euan.  It is my due after all these grey and Quaker years when I made eyes at you from the age of twelve, and won only a scowl or two for my condescension.”

But we had reached the river bank, and there the group came once more together, the ladies curious to see the batteaux arriving, loaded with valley sheep, we officers pointing out to them the canoes of our corps of Oneida guides, and Hanierri and the Reverend Mr. Kirkland reading their Testaments under the shade of the trees, gravely absorbed in God.