est of friends, Mr. Hawes, and you must not
reproach me."

"Forgive me if I have hurt you," I said, stupidly.

"But you must not keep on wounding me merely to be forgiven. I said that
he would kneel at my feet, and this may sound foolish to you, but he
will. How do I know? I feel it; I don't know why, but I do. And we are
to leave the old home if father can sell the land. It's better to go,
but it will be still better to come back, and we will. Do you think that
I am merely a simple girl without ambition? I am not; I dream."

"I know that you are a noble woman."

"Oh, don't flatter me now. It's first reproach, and then flattery. But
have you thought of the real nobility of some one else--yourself?"

I strove to laugh, but I know that it must have been a miserable croak.
"I have done nothing to merit that opinion," I replied.

"Oh, it is a part of your nature to suppress yourself. Do you know that
I expect great things of you? I do."

"I know one thing that I'm going to do--I am going to buy the old house
and a narrow strip of land--the path and the spring. That's all I
want--the house, the path and the spring, with just a little strip
running a short distance down the brook where the moss is so thick. I
have the promise of money from Perdue, and I think that I can borrow
some of Conkwright. Yes, I must have the house and the path and the
spring and the strip of moss-land that lies along the branch. It will be
merely a poetic possession, but such possessions are the richest to one
who has a soul; and no one with a soul will bid against me. It is a mean
man that would bid against a sentiment."

"You must be nearly worn out," she said, when for some distance we had
walked in silence.

"I may be, but I don't know it yet. And so long as I don't know it, why,
of course, I don't care."

For a long time we said nothing. Her hand was on my arm, but I scarcely
felt its weight, except when we came upon places where the road was
rough; and I wished that the way were rougher, that I might feel her
dependence upon me. Once she stepped into a deep rut, and I caught her
about the waist, but when I had lifted her out, she gently released
herself. She said that the road was rougher than she had ever before
found it, and I was ready to swear that it was the most delightful
highway that my feet had trod; indeed, I did swear it, but she warned me
not to use such strong language when I meant to convey but a weak
compliment.

"L