The physician's daughter looked past me across the road. "I wish I were aman," said she, "and could go off as I pleased, as you do! It must bedelightfully independent."

I sometimes was about to remark that too much independence is not altogetherdelightful, but she suddenly spoke:

"You carry very little with you for a long journey," and as she exclaimedthis she grasped the pickets of the gate more tightly. I could look at thecontraction of the muscles of her black arms. It seemed as if shewere restraining something.

"0h, this isn't all my baggage," I said in reply. "I sent on a large bag toWaterton. I suppose I shall be there in a couple of days, and then Ishall forward the bag to some other place."

"I do not suppose you have packed up any medicine among your otherthings?" she asked. "You don't look as if you very often neededmedicine."