, you would know what is in my heart, and
why expression of some kind is necessary to me just now, and why I'll
explode if it is denied. It will lower the tension, if you will accept
this as a matter of fact; as if you rather expected and liked it, if you
can."

The Harvester set his finger on the spring.

"Don't!" she said. "I'll never have the courage if you do. Give it to me
in the case, and let me open it. Despite your unanswerable arguments, I
am quite sure that is the only way in which I can take it."

The Harvester gave her the box.

"My wedding gift!" she exclaimed, more to herself than to him. "Why
should I be the buffet of all the unkind fates kept in store for a girl
my whole life, and then suddenly be offered home, beautiful gifts, and
wonderful loving kindness by a stranger?"

The Harvester ran his fingers through his crisp hair, pulled it into
a peak, stepped to the seat and sitting on the railing, he lifted his
elbows, tilted his head, and began a motley outpouring of half-spoken,
half-whistled trills and imploring cries. There was enough similarity
that the Girl instantly recognized the red bird. Out of breath the
Harvester dropped to the seat beside her.

"And don't you keep forgetting it!" he cried. "Now open that box and
put on the trinket; because I want to take you to the cabin when the sun
falls level on the drive."

She opened the case, exposing a thread of gold that appeared too slender
for the weight of an exquisite pendant, set with shimmering pearls.

"If you will look down there," the Harvester pointed over the railing to
the arrowhead lilies touched with the fading light, "you will see that
they are similar."

"They are!" cried the Girl. "How lovely! Which is more beautiful I do
not know. And you won't like it if I say I must not."

She held the open case toward the Harvester.

"'Possession is nine points in the law,'" he quoted. "You have taken
it already and it is in your hands; now make the gift perfect for me by
putting it on and saying nothing more."

"My wedding gift!" repeated the Girl. Slowly she lifted the beautiful
ornament and held it in the light. "I'm so glad you just force me to
take it," she said. "Any half-normal girl would be delighted. I do
accept it. And what's more, I am going to keep and wear it and my ring
at suitable times all my life, in memory of what you have done to be
kind to me on this awful day."

"Thank you!" said the Harvester. "That is a flash