She reminded him, sometimes--and he could not have said why--of a spirited horse that has been abused--alert for blows, ready to defend itself, suspicious of kindness until its confidence has been won.
Kate had expanded and bloomed in the new atmosphere like a flower whose growth has been retarded by poor soil and contracted space. Her lips had taken on a smiling upward curve that gave a new expression to her face, and now her frequent laugh was spontaneous and contagious. Her humor was of the western flavor--droll exaggeration--a little grim, while in her unexpected turns of speech, Prentiss found a constant source of entertainment.
He had told her of the Toomeys and the circumstances in which they had met; also of the letter endeavoring to interest him in the irrigation project.
"Do you know them?" he had asked, and she had replied merely, "Somewhat."
When questioned as to the merits of the project, she had answered evasively, "Of my own knowledge I know nothing." But he could not fail to observe the sudden stillness which fell upon her, the inscrutability of expression which dropped like a mask over her animated face. The name of Prouty alone was sufficient to bring this change, as if at the sound of the word a habit of reserve asserted itself.
Prentiss thought of it much, but contented himself with believing that all in good time he would have his daughter's entire confidence.
The afternoon train had been extraordinarily late, bringing him in long after dark, so the news of the arrival of this stranger of undoubted importance had not been widely disseminated as yet. In any event, it had not reached Toomey, who banged the door violently behind him as he strode into the office of the hotel. His brow was dark and it did not belie his mood. He was indignant, and with reason enough, for he had just learned that he had dined the barber futilely, since the ingrate had purchased elsewhere a sewing machine of a rival make.
As Toomey was about to take his accustomed seat, his glance chanced to light upon Prentiss's distinguished back.
He stopped abruptly, staring in a surprise which passed swiftly from incredulity to joy. "The 'Live One!' Prentiss, at last!"
If he had followed his impulse, Toomey would have cast himself headlong upon the newcomer's prosperous bosom, for a conventional handshake seemed inadequate to express the rapture that sent him to Prentiss's side in a rush.
"Mr. Prentiss, as I live! Why didn't you let me know?" It did not for a moment occur to Toomey that Prentiss was in Prouty for any other purpose than to see him.