Harold Bindloss

“ The stones were undisturbed and not scratched by nails, but the girl went on with the fearless confidence and grace of a mountain deer, and he helped her companion as well as he could. At length the big stones ended, and a smooth slope of gravel ran down into the mist. It looked nearly perpendicular, but a path a few inches wide, which the mountain sheep had made, crossed it obliquely. Festing's nerve was good, but he hesitated.
"I suppose it's safe?" he said.
"It's not really dangerous," the girl replied. ”

“ In fact, one learns in England that one's views about many things—— But I'm talking nonsense."
"No," said Maud. "You have told me what you feel; now tell me what you do."
Festing, who was on surer ground, did his best. He wanted her to understand something of the strain and effort the Western farmers bore and made. He told her of their anxiety about the June rain, and how they watched the clear green sky in autumn, when early frosts nip the ripening wheat. ”

“ Miss Kenrick was obviously Annet's choice, and, as he had rashly given his promise, he must do his best for Bob.
"Bob's a very good fellow, and the right man for Canada. Nothing tires him; I think he revels in difficulties. He has had a few bad setbacks, but he's the kind of fellow that trouble nerves. He's cool, steady as a rock, and essentially practical."
"Yes," she agreed, "Bob was like that. But I suppose he has some faults?"
Festing pondered. He was Bob's friend, but the girl ought to be warned.
"He has certainly no weaknesses, but perhaps one's useful virtues can be too marked. ”

“ He did his best, sometimes walking in front of the girl, so that she could put her hand on his shoulder, sometimes ploughing through the scree below the path and steadying her. In places the gravel, loosened by their feet, slipped away, and they heard the stones tinkle far down in the mist, and once a long, smooth slab dropped nearly straight into what seemed to be a bottomless pit. They left the scree, however, where huge broken rocks clung to the slope, and soon afterwards the light-haired girl stopped abruptly. ”

“ It was the girl who walked like a deer. By and by she left the others, and Alice beckoned.
"Maud," she said, "I want to present Mr. Festing, who's a friend of Bob's from Canada. He doesn't play tennis much, and if you're not in the next game——" Then she smiled at Festing rather curiously. "Miss Kenrick."
She left them, and an embarrassing suspicion dawned on Festing as he remembered one of Annet's remarks; but when they reached a bench in the shade, he began to talk about the mountains. ”

“ Still, there are not many girls on the plains, and the life is very hard for a woman. To begin with, she must be a good cook and housekeeper, and know how to drive a team."
"Useful qualifications, but perhaps they don't cover all the ground." ”

“ They work hard and live frugally, but they have the tastes and traditions of their kind. There are not many women, and the girls who could manage a homestead well might jar, while young Englishwomen of the type they knew at home would be daunted by the hardships and discomforts."
"I do see," said Annet. "Well, Bob was never given to romantic sentiment, and seems at least to know what he wants. On the whole, I think one of Alice's mountaineering friends is indicated. ”