TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 25 



the long dark age of groping is over. And you have 

 groped, dear?" 



" I suppose so," replied Ralph, completely be- 

 fogged, but, masculine-like, desirous of pleasing to 

 the last. 



" We will live up to our ethics," said the com- 

 ing-on lady. " We will go to the ends of the earth." 



" But, I say, don't you know, I er I'm bound for 

 Alaska, and and " 



Here the Leader, who could not keep quiet any 

 longer, laughed like anything, and we both had to 

 run away, and hide our eavesdropping heads. 



Tap-tap at my door that night. It was Ralph, 

 duly penitent and ashamed. 



"I've a good mind not to help you, Ralph," I 

 said in my wrath. " I've a good mind to let her 

 elope with you to the ends of the earth." 



" But I don't want to go there," he maintained, 

 " I don't want her to elope with me. I want to go 

 to Alaska with you and Cecily." 



" Cecily ! If she only knew !" I said viciously. 



Well ! of course I agreed to save him, but only 

 on condition that he went to Seattle next day, whither 

 we all speedily betook ourselves, having seen the 

 Lily started off on her voyage to Kodiak. 



