“Dear Mrs. Belding, I love Nell for herself.  If she loves me I’ll be the happiest of men.  There’s absolutely nothing that could make any difference in me.”

“But your people?  Oh, Dick, you come of a proud family.  I can tell.  I—­I once knew a young man like you.  A few months can’t change pride—­blood.  Years can’t change them.  You’ve become a ranger.  You love the adventure—­the wild life.  That won’t last.  Perhaps you’ll settle down to ranching.  I know you love the West.  But, Dick, there’s your family—­”

“If you want to know anything about my family, I’ll tell you,” interrupted Dick, with strong feeling.  “I’ve not secrets about them or myself.  My future and happiness are Nell’s to make.  No one else shall count with me.”

“Then, Dick—­you may have her.  God—­bless—­you—­both.”

Mrs. Belding’s strained face underwent a swift and mobile relaxation, and suddenly she was weeping in strangely mingled happiness and bitterness.

“Why, mother!” Gale could say no more.  He did not comprehend a mood seemingly so utterly at variance with Mrs. Belding’s habitual temperament.  But he put his arm around her.  In another moment she had gained command over herself, and, kissing him, she pushed him out of the door.

“There!  Go tell her, Dick...And have some spunk about it!”

Gale went thoughtfully back to his room.  He vowed that he would answer for Nell’s happiness, if he had the wonderful good fortune to win her.  Then remembering the hope Mrs. Belding had given him, Dick lost his gravity in a flash, and something began to dance and ring within him.  He simply could not keep his steps turned from the patio.  Every path led there.  His blood was throbbing, his hopes mounting, his spirit soaring.  He knew he had never before entered the patio with that inspirited presence.

“Now for some spunk!” he said, under his breath.

Plainly he meant his merry whistle and his buoyant step to interrupt this first languorous stage of the siesta which the girls always took during the hot hours.  Nell had acquired the habit long before Mercedes came to show how fixed a thing it was in the life of the tropics.  But neither girl heard him.  Mercedes lay under the palo verde, her beautiful head dark and still upon a cushion.  Nell was asleep in the hammock.  There was an abandonment in her deep repose, and a faint smile upon her face.  Her sweet, red lips, with the soft, perfect curve, had always fascinated Dick, and now drew him irresistibly.  He had always been consumed with a desire to kiss her, and now he was overwhelmed with his opportunity.  It would be a terrible thing to do, but if she did not awaken at once—­ No, he would fight the temptation.  That would be more than spunk.  It would—­ Suddenly an ugly green fly sailed low over Nell, appeared about to alight on her.  Noiselessly Dick stepped close to the hammock bent under the tree, and with a sweep of his hand chased the intruding fly away.  But he found himself powerless to straighten up.  He was close to her—­bending over her face—­near the sweet lips.  The insolent, dreaming smile just parted them.  Then he thought he was lost.  But she stirred—­he feared she would awaken.