"Glenn, is that girl in love with you?" asked Carley, bluntly.
To her amaze, Glenn laughed. When had she heard him laugh? It thrilled
her, yet nettled her a little.
"If that isn't like you!" he ejaculated. "Your very first words after we
are left alone! It brings back the East, Carley."
"Probably recall to memory will be good for you," returned Carley. "But
tell me. Is she in love with you?"
"Why, no, certainly not!" replied Glenn. "Anyway, how could I answer
such a question? It just made me laugh, that's all."
"Humph! I can remember when you were not above making love to a pretty
girl. You certainly had me worn to a frazzle--before we became engaged,"
said Carley.
"Old times! How long ago they seem!... Carley, it's sure wonderful to
see you."
"How do you like my gown?" asked Carley, pirouetting for his benefit.
"Well, what little there is of it is beautiful," he replied, with a slow
smile. "I always liked you best in white. Did you remember?"
"Yes. I got the gown for you. And I'll never wear it except for you."
"Same old coquette--same old eternal feminine," he said, half sadly.
"You know when you look stunning.... But, Carley, the cut of that--or
rather the abbreviation of it--inclines me to think that style for
women's clothes has not changed for the better. In fact, it's worse than
two years ago in Paris and later in New York. Where will you women draw
the line?"
"Women are slaves to the prevailing mode," rejoined Carley. "I don't
imagine women who dress would ever draw a line, if fashion went on
dictating."
"But would they care so much--if they had to work--plenty of work--and
children?" inquired Glenn, wistfully.
"Glenn! Work and children for modern women? Why, you are dreaming!" said
Carley, with a laugh.
She saw him gaze thoughtfully into the glowing embers of the fire, and
as she watched him her quick intuition grasped a subtle change in his
mood. It brought a sternness to his face. She could hardly realize she
was looking at the Glenn Kilbourne of old.
"Come close to the fire," he said, and pulled up a chair for her. Then
he threw more wood upon the red coals. "You must be careful not to catch
cold out here. The altitude makes a cold dangerous. And that gown is no
protection."