She listened to him for some time with interest and attention, but at last her face became abstracted and thoughtful.

"I wish I were a man!" she said suddenly.
Paul looked at her quickly.

For the first time he detected in the ring of her voice something of the passionate quality he fancied he had always seen in her face.
"Except that it might give you better control of your horse, I don't see why," said Paul.

"And I don't entirely believe you." "Why ?" "Because no woman really wishes to be a man unless she is conscious of her failure as a woman." "And how do you know I'm not ?" she said, checking her horse and looking in his face.

A quick conviction that she was on the point of some confession sprang into his mind, but unfortunately showed in his face.
She beat back his eager look with a short laugh.