Resentment showed in his face now. This boy was winning
friends on every side.
Something in the two men, some vibration of temperament, struck the same
chord in Junia's life and being. She had noticed similar gestures,
similar intonations of voice, and, above all else, a little toss of the
head backwards. She knew they were not related, and so she put the whole
thing down to Carnac's impressionable nature which led its owner into
singular imitations. It had done so in the field of Art. He was young
enough to be the imitator without loss to himself.
"I'm doing my best to defeat you," she said to Barouche, reaching out a
hand for good-bye, "and I shall work harder now than ever. You're so
sure you're going to win that I'd disappoint you, monsieur--only to do
you good."
"Ah, I'm sorry you haven't any real interest in Carnac Grier, if it's
only to do me good! Well, goodbye--good-bye," he added, raising his hat,
and presently was gone.
As Carnac drew near, Fabian's wife stepped forward. "Carnac," she said,
"I hope you'll come with us on the river in Fabian's steam-launch.
There's work to do there. It's pay-day in the lumber-yards on the
Island, so please come. Will you?"
Carnac laughed. "Yes, there's no engagement to prevent it." He thanked
Junia and Sibyl for all they had done for him, and added: "I'd like a
couple of hours among the rivermen.
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