Carley had grown attached to Calico before she realized she was drifting into it; and for Carley to care for anything or anybody was a serious matter, because it did not happen often and it lasted.

She was exceedingly tenacious of affection.
June had almost passed and summer lay upon the lonely land.

Such perfect and wonderful weather had never before been Carley's experience.

The dawns broke cool, fresh, fragrant, sweet, and rosy, with a breeze that seemed of heaven rather than earth, and the air seemed tremulously full of the murmur of falling water and the melody of mocking birds.

At the solemn noontides the great white sun glared down hot--so hot that it burned the skin, yet strangely was a pleasant burn.