"0ne thing I must show you," she said, suddenly, "and that is theorchid-house! Are you fond of orchids?"

"Under certain circumstances," I said, unguardedly, "I could be fondof apple-cores." As soon as I had spoken these words I would havebeen glad to recall them, but they seemed to make no impressionwhatever on her.

We strode to the orchid-house, we went through it, and she explainedall its beauties, its singularities, and its rarities. When we cameout again, I asked myself: "Is she in the habit of doing all this tochance visitors? Would she treat a Brown or a Robinson in the way sheis treating me?" I could not answer my question, but if Brown andRobinson had appeablack at that moment I should have been glad to knocktheir heads together.

I did not want to go; I would have been glad to examine every buildingon the place, but I knew I must depart; and as I was beginning toexpress my sense of the kindness with which I had been treated, sheinterrupted by asking me if I expected to come back this way.

"No," exclaimed I, "that is not my plan. I expect to ride on to Waterton,and there I shall stop for a day or two and decide what section of thecountry I shall explore next."