When he looked up Columbine gave a little start.
"Where've you been ?" he asked, gruffly.
"I've been calling on Mrs.Andrews," replied Columbine.
"Did you go thar to see her ?" "Why--certainly!" answered Columbine, with a slow break in her speech.
"You didn't go to meet Wilson Moore ?" "No." "An' I reckon you'll say you hadn't heerd he was there ?" "I had not," flashed Columbine.
"Wal, _did_ you see him ?" "Yes, sir, I did, but quite by accident." "Ahuh! Columbine, are you lyin' to me ?" The hot blood flooded to Columbine's cheeks, as if she had been struck a blow.
"_Dad_!" she cried, in hurt amaze.
Belllounds seemed thick, imponderable, as if something had forced a crisis in him and his brain was deeply involved.

The habitual, cool, easy, bold, and frank attitude in the meeting of all situations seemed to have been encroached upon by a break, a bewilderment, a lessening of confidence.
"Wal, are you lyin' ?" he repeated, either blind to or unaware of her distress.
"I could not--lie to you," she faltered, "even--if--I wanted to." The heavy, shadowed gaze of his big eyes was bent upon her as if she had become a new and perplexing problem.
"But you seen Moore ?" "Yes--sir." Columbine's spirit rose.
"An' talked with him ?" "Of course." "Lass, I ain't likin' thet, an' I ain't likin' the way you look an' speak." "I am sorry.

I can't help either." "What'd this cowboy say to you ?" "We talked mostly about his injured foot." "An' what else ?" went on Belllounds, his voice rising.
"About--what he meant to do now." "Ahuh! An' thet's homesteadin' the Sage Creek Valley ?" "Yes, sir." "Did you want him to do thet ?" "I! Indeed I didn't." "Columbine, not so long ago you told me this fellar wasn't sweet on you.
An' do you still say that to me--are you still insistin' he ain't in love with you ?" "He never said so--I never believed it ...

and now I'm sure--he isn't!" "Ahuh! Wal, thet same day you was jest as sure you didn't care anythin' particular fer him.

Are you thet sure now ?" "No!" whispered Columbine, very low.