Part 46 (1/2)

”At least that was the way with me.” Rachel's carmine lips gave a little quiver at the corners. ”I suppose _you_ feel like that.”

”Me? I feel just as usual.”

”But you're so English, nothing would disturb _you_.”

Rose laughed aloud. ”I should shriek if a digger touched me,” she said.

”But it was almost worth the fright, dear.” Rachel leaned forward confidentially. ”First, he put me on his horse, and we forded the river together; then, he took me home and was so kind. I _do_ think you're _such_ a lucky girl.”

”Me? Why?”

Suddenly Rachel's manner altered. Bursting into a rippling laugh, she raised her parasol, and skittishly poked Rose in the ribs.

”How very close some people are,” she exclaimed. ”But you might as well own the soft impeachment, and then all the girls could congratulate you.”

The thought went through Rose's mind, that if the good wishes of her acquaintances were like this girl's perhaps they might well be spared.

She was completing her task by ladling the plums from the big pan into the array of jars, and she bent over her work in order to hide her annoyance.

”And I hear he's _so_ rich,” continued Rachel. ”He's had such wonderful luck on the diggings. Papa says he's one of the best marks in Timber Town--barring old Mr. Crewe, of course.”

Rose gazed, open-eyed, at her visitor.

”How much do you think he is worth?” asked Rachel, unabashed.

”I really don't know. I have no notion whom you mean.”

Again the rippling laugh rang through the kitchen.

”Really, this is too funny. Own up: wasn't Mr. Scarlett very lucky?”

”Oh! Mr. Scarlett? I believe he got _some_ gold--he showed me some.”

”Surely, he had it weighed?”

”I suppose so--I thought there was something in the paper about it.”

”Was all that gold Mr. Scarlett's?”

”Yes, about as much as would fill this saucepan. He poured it out on the dining-room table, and Captain Sartoris and my father stared at it till their eyes almost dropped out.”

”You lucky girl! They say he gave you the dandiest ring.”

Rose mutely held out her unadorned fingers. When they had been closely inspected, she said, ”You see, this is all rubbish about my being engaged. As for Mr. Scarlett, I have reason to think that he left his heart behind him in the Old Country.”

”Confidences, my dear. If he has told you that much, it won't take you long to hook him. We giddy girls have no chance against you deep, demure stay-at-homes. The dear men dance and flirt with us, but they don't propose. How I wish I had learned to cook, or even to bottle plums!

Fancy having a man all to yourself in a kitchen like this; making a cake, with your sleeves tucked up to the elbows, and no one to interrupt--why, I guarantee, he'd propose in ten minutes.” She tapped her front teeth with her finger. ”I have to go to the dentist to-morrow.

I do hate it so, but I've got to have something done to one of my front teeth. I'm thinking of getting the man to fill it with gold, and put a small diamond in the middle. That ought to be quite fetching, don't you think?”

”It certainly would be unique.”