“I was told you had driven every one out of here,” she said coldly.  “What was the game?”

“This room was reserved—­”

“Pish! keep that explanation for some one else.  You wanted the room for some purpose.  Who have you got out there?” she pointed at the window.

“Whether there be any one or not,” he answered, leaning against the window frame, and thus barring the passage, “I fail to see wherein you are concerned.”

She laughed.

“Which remark is equivalent to a confession.  Dave,” suddenly changing, “why should we quarrel, and misjudge each other?  You cannot suppose I have forgotten the past, or am indifferent.  Cannot you forgive the mistake of a thoughtless girl?  Is there any reason why we should not be, at least, friendly?”

There was an appeal in her voice, but the man’s face did not respond.

“I cannot say that I feel any bitterness over the past,” he answered lightly.  “I am willing enough to blot that out.  What I am interested in is the present.  I should like to understand your purpose here at Dodge.”

“Surely that is sufficiently clear.  I am merely an exile from home, on account of Indian depredations.  What more natural than that I should take refuge in my uncle’s house.”

“You mean Major McDonald?”

“Certainly—­he was my mother’s only brother.”

“I think I have heard somewhere that the Major’s only sister married a man named Counts.”

She drew in her breath sharply.

“Yes, of course—­her first husband.”

“You were a daughter then of her first marriage?”

“Of course.”

“But assumed the name of Carson when she married again?”

“That was when you met me.”

“The change was natural enough,” he went on.

“But why did you also become Vera in place of Sarah?”

“Oh, is that it?  Well, never attempt to account for the vagaries of a girl,” she returned lightly, as though dismissing the subject.  “I presume I took a fancy to the prettier name.  But how did you know?”

“Garrison rumor picks up nearly everything, and it is not very kind to you, Mrs. Dupont.  I hope I am doing you a favor in saying this.  Your rather open flirtation with Lieutenant Gaskins is common talk, even among enlisted men, and I have heard that your relations with Major McDonald are peculiar.”

“Indeed!” with a rising inflection of the voice.  “How kind of you, and so delicately expressed.”  She laughed.  “And poor Major McDonald!  Really, that is ridiculous.  Could you imagine my flirting with him?”

“I have no recollection of using that term in this connection.  But you have strange influence over him.  For some reason the man is apparently afraid of you.”

“Afraid of me?  Oh, no!  Some one has been fooling you, Dave.  I am merely Major McDonald’s guest.  I wonder who told you that?  Shall I guess?”