l's eyes were upward turned. "Every evening comes with a new
mystery," she said. "We think we know what to expect, but when the
evening comes it is different from what it was yesterday."

"And it is thus that we are enabled to live without growing tired of the
world and of ourselves," I replied. "And I wish that I had come like the
evening--with a mystery," I added.

I heard her musical cluck and even in the dusk I could see the light of
her smile. "But why should you want to come with a mystery?" she asked.

"To inspire those about me with an interest regarding me. Even the stray
dog is more interesting than the dog that is vouched for by the
appearance of his master. I never saw a pack-peddler that I did not long
to know something of his life, his emotions, the causes that sent him
adrift, but I can't find this interest in a man whom I understand."

She laughed again. "But haven't you some little mystery connected with
your life?" she asked.

"None. I have read myself into a position a few degrees above the
clod-hopper, but that's all. If there were a war, I would be a soldier,
but as there is no war, I am going to be a lawyer."

"It would be nice, I should think, to stand up and make speeches," she
said. "But wouldn't you rather be a doctor?"

I don't know why I said it, but I replied that I hated doctors, and she
did not laugh at this, but was silent. I waited for her to say
something, but she uttered not a word. It was now dark, and I could just
discern Alf's figure, standing on the rock. The song in the house was
hushed.

"I don't really mean that I hate doctors," I said, seeking to right
myself, if, indeed, I had made a mistake; and she simply replied: "Oh."
"I mean that I should not like to practice medicine," I added, and again
she said: "Oh." A lamp had been lighted in the sitting-room, and thither
we went, to join Old Lim and his wife, who were warm in the discussion
of a religious question. The Book said that whatever a man's hands found
to do he must do, and, therefore, he held that it was right to do almost
anything on Sunday.

"Even unto the fighting of chickens?" his wife asked.

"Oh, I knowed what you was a-gittin' at. Knowed it while you was
a-beatin' the bush all round. When a woman begins to beat the bush, it's
time to look out, Mr. Hawes. I came in here just now, and I knowed in a
minute that wife, there, was goin' to accuse me of havin' a round with
Sam and Bob, but I pledge you my word