Phoebe went on
disentangling her hair in silence, and Rhoda likewise fell into a brown
study.

Of the nature of her thoughts that young lady gave but two intimations:
the first, as she tied up her hair in the loose bag which then served
for a night-cap,--

"I cannot abide that Betty!"

The second came a long while afterwards, just as Phoebe was dropping to
sleep.

"I say, Phoebe!"

"Yes?"

"Did you say `kakios?'"

Phoebe had to collect her thoughts. "Kakos," she said.

"Oh, all right; _they_ won't know. But won't I take the shine out of
that Molly!"

Phoebe's arrested sleep came back to her as she was reflecting on the
curious idea which her cousin seemed to have of friendship.

"Come along, Phoebe! This is the shortest way."

"Oh, couldn't we go by the road?" asked Phoebe, drawing back
apprehensively, as Rhoda sprang lightly from the top of the stile which
led into the meadow.

"Of course we could, but 'tis ever so much further round, and not half
so pleasant. Why?"

"There are--cows!" said Phoebe, under her breath.

Rhoda laughed more decidedly than civilly.

"Cows! Did you never see cows before? I say, Phoebe, come along!
Don't be so silly!"

Phoebe obeyed, but in evident trepidation, and casting many nervous
glances at the dreaded cows, until the girls had passed the next stile.

"Cows don't bite, silly Phoebe!" said Rhoda, rather patronisingly, from
the height of her two years' superiority in age.

"But they toss sometimes, don't they?" tremblingly demanded Phoebe.

"What nonsense!" said Rhoda, as they rounded the Maidens' Lodge.

Little Mrs Dorothy sat sewing at her window, and she nodded cheerily to
her young guests as they came in.

"What do you think, Mrs Dolly?--good evening!" said Rhoda,
parenthetically. "If this foolish Phoebe isn't frighted of a cow!"

"Sure, my dear, that is no wonder, for one bred in in the town," gently
deprecated Mrs Dorothy.

"So stupid and nonsensical!" said Rhoda. "I say, Mrs Dolly, are you
afraid of anything?"

"Yes, my dear," was the quiet answer.

"Oh!" said Rhoda. "Cows?"

"No, not cows," returned Mrs Dorothy, smiling.

"Frogs? Beetles?" suggested Rhoda.

"I do not think I am afraid of any animal, at least in this country,
without it be vipers," said Mrs Dorothy. "But--well, I dare say I am
but a foolish old woman in many regards. I oft fear things which I note
others not to fear at all."

"But what sort of things, Mrs Dolly?"