"You--should n't say that," she faltered. "Surely you do not believe I will ever become ungrateful."
"No; and yet gratitude is not altogether satisfactory." He hesitated. "It is hard to explain just what I mean to you, for you do not realize the life we lead out here--the loneliness of it. Even a man in the ranks may possess the desires of a human being. I--well, I 'm hungry for the companionship of a good woman. Don't misunderstand, Miss McDonald. I am not presuming, nor taking advantage of the accident which has placed us in this peculiar position, but I have been a trooper out here now a long while, stationed at little isolated frontier posts, riding the great plains, doing the little routine duties of soldiering. I have n't spoken to a decent woman on terms of social equality for two years; I 've looked at a few from a distance and taken orders from them. But they have glanced through me as though I were something inanimate instead of a man. I saved an officer's life once down there," and he pointed into the southeast, "and his wife thanked me as though it were a disagreeable duty. I reckon you don't understand, but I don't like the word gratitude."
"But I do understand," and she stretched out her hand to him across the opened haversack. "I 'm not so dull, and it must be awful to feel alone like that, I told you I--I liked you, and--I do. Now remember that, please, and be good. From now on I am not Major McDonald's daughter, not even Miss McDonald--I 'm just Molly McDonald."
The gray eyes laughed.
"You are assuming a great risk."
"I don't believe it," her forehead wrinkling a little, but her eyes bright. "You and I can be friends--can't we?"
"We 'll try, out here, at least. Even if the dream does n't last long, it will be pleasant to remember."
"You do not think it will last, then?"
He shook his head.
"I would be a fool to hope; I have been in the army too long."
They were still for a minute, the girl's fingers toying with the flap of the haversack, her eyes gazing across the river. He thought they were misty.
"I am sorry you are so prejudiced," she said at last slowly, "for I am not like that at all. I am not going to be ashamed of a friend because he--he is in the ranks. I shall be only the more proud. What is your full name?"
He passed his hand over his hair, and laughed.
"They call me 'Brick' Hamlin--a subtle reference to this crown of glory."