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with all that beauty and all that talent； Miss Kronborg？〃
She turned away to the fire again。 〃I don't know what
you're talking about；〃 she muttered with an awkwardness
which did not conceal her pleasure。
Ottenburg laughed softly。 〃Oh； yes； you do！ Nobody
better！ You're a close one； but you give yourself away
sometimes； like everybody else。 Do you know； I've de…
cided that you never do a single thing without an ulterior
motive。〃 He threw away his cigarette； took out his
tobacco…pouch and began to fill his pipe。 〃You ride and
fence and walk and climb； but I know that all the while
you're getting somewhere in your mind。 All these things
are instruments； and I； too； am an instrument。〃 He looked
up in time to intercept a quick； startled glance from Thea。
〃Oh； I don't mind；〃 he chuckled； 〃not a bit。 Every
woman； every interesting woman； has ulterior motives；
many of 'em less creditable than yours。 It's your constancy
that amuses me。 You must have been doing it ever since
you were two feet high。〃
Thea looked slowly up at her companion's good…humored
face。 His eyes； sometimes too restless and sympathetic in
town； had grown steadier and clearer in the open air。 His
short curly beard and yellow hair had reddened in the sun
and wind。 The pleasant vigor of his person was always
delightful to her； something to signal to and laugh with in
a world of negative people。 With Fred she was never be…
calmed。 There was always life in the air； always something
coming and going； a rhythm of feeling and action；
stronger than the natural accord of youth。 As she looked
at him； leaning against the sunny wall； she felt a desire to
be frank with him。 She was not willfully holding anything
back。 But； on the other hand； she could not force things
that held themselves back。 〃Yes； it was like that when I
was little；〃 she said at last。 〃I had to be close； as you
call it； or go under。 But I didn't know I had been like that
since you came。 I've had nothing to be close about。 I
haven't thought about anything but having a good time
with you。 I've just drifted。〃
Fred blew a trail of smoke out into the breeze and looked
knowing。 〃Yes； you drift like a rifle ball； my dear。 It's
youryour direction that I like best of all。 Most fellows
wouldn't； you know。 I'm unusual。〃
They both laughed； but Thea frowned questioningly。
〃Why wouldn't most fellows？ Other fellows have liked
me。〃
〃Yes； serious fellows。 You told me yourself they were all
old； or solemn。 But jolly fellows want to be the whole
target。 They would say you were all brain and muscle；
that you have no feeling。〃
She glanced at him sidewise。 〃Oh； they would； would
they？〃
〃Of course they would；〃 Fred continued blandly。 〃Jolly
fellows have no imagination。 They want to be the animat…
ing force。 When they are not around； they want a girl to
beextinct；〃 he waved his hand。 〃Old fellows like Mr。
Nathanmeyer understand your kind； but among the young
ones； you are rather lucky to have found me。 Even I
wasn't always so wise。 I've had my time of thinking it
would not bore me to be the Apollo of a homey flat； and
I've paid out a trifle to learn better。 All those things get
very tedious unless they are hooked up with an idea of
some sort。 It's because we DON'T come out here only to
look at each other and drink coffee that it's so pleasant to
look at each other。〃 Fred drew on his pipe for a while；
studying Thea's abstraction。 She was staring up at the
far wall of the canyon with a troubled expression that drew
her eyes narrow and her mouth hard。 Her hands lay in her
lap； one over the other； the fingers interlacing。 〃Suppose；〃
Fred came out at length；〃suppose I were to offer you
what most of the young men I know would offer a girl
they'd been sitting up nights about： a comfortable flat in
Chicago； a summer camp up in the woods； musical even…
ings； and a family to bring up。 Would it look attractive
to you？〃
Thea sat up straight and stared at him in alarm； glared
into his eyes。 〃Perfectly hideous！〃 she exclaimed。
Fred dropped back against the old stonework and
laughed deep in his chest。 〃Well； don't be frightened。 I
won't offer them。 You're not a nest…building bird。 You
know I always liked your song； ‘Me for the jolt of the
breakers！' I understand。〃
She rose impatiently and walked to the edge of the cliff。
〃It's not that so much。 It's waking up every morning
with the feeling that your life is your own； and your
strength is your own； and your talent is your own； that
you're all there； and there's no sag in you。〃 She stood for
a moment as if she were tortured by uncertainty； then
turned suddenly back to him。 〃Don't talk about these
things any more now；〃 she entreated。 〃It isn't that I
want to keep anything from you。 The trouble is that I've
got nothing to keepexcept （you know as well as I） that
feeling。 I told you about it in Chicago once。 But it always
makes me unhappy to talk about it。 It will spoil the day。
Will you go for a climb with me？〃 She held out her hands
with a smile so eager that it made Ottenburg feel how much
she needed to get away from herself。
He sprang up and caught the hands she put out so cor…
dially； and stood swinging them back and forth。 〃I won't
tease you。 A word's enough to me。 But I love it； all the
same。 Understand？〃 He pressed her hands and dropped
them。 〃Now； where are you going to drag me？〃
〃I want you to drag me。 Over there； to the other houses。
They are more interesting than these。〃 She pointed across
the gorge to the row of white houses in the other cliff。
〃The trail is broken away； but I got up there once。 It's
possible。 You have to go to the bottom of the canyon；
cross the creek； and then go up hand…over…hand。〃
Ottenburg； lounging against the sunny wall； his hands in
the pockets of his jacket； looked across at the distant dwell…
ings。 〃It's an awful climb；〃 he sighed； 〃when I could be
perfectly happy here with my pipe。 However〃 He
took up his stick and hat and followed Thea down the
water trail。 〃Do you climb this path every day？ You
surely earn your bath。 I went down and had a look at your
pool the other afternoon。 Neat place； with all those little
cottonwoods。 Must be very becoming。〃
〃Think so？〃 Thea said over her shoulder； as she swung
round a turn。
〃Yes； and so do you； evidently。 I'm becoming expert
at reading your meaning in your back。 I'm behind you so
much on these single…foot trails。 You don't wear stays； do
you？〃
〃Not here。〃
〃I wouldn't； anywhere； if I were you。 They will make
you less elastic。 The side muscles get flabby。 If you go in
for opera； there's a fortune in a flexible body。 Most of the
German singers are clumsy； even when they're well set up。〃
Thea switched a PINON branch back at him。 〃Oh； I'll
never get fat！ That I can promise you。〃
Fred smiled； looking after her。 〃Keep that promise； no
matter how many others you break；〃 he drawled。
The upward climb； after they had crossed the stream；
was at first a