han suggested "chicken" and "chestnuts,"
Montgomery had vanished to set them in train. After all, there might be
compensations, he thought, for a day wasted upon a girl's society. There
still seemed to linger upon his palate the flavor of Aunt Eunice's
pullets, from which he had been despoiled by his first enforced call
upon her ward, and though he had regretfully heard Susanna say "chicken"
without the plural "s," he knew that, being himself "company," he would
get his full share of the fowl, which he trusted might be a large one.

Which explains his presence in the wood and his lingering in the
barn-yard now, where he could command a first view of any person issuing
from the forest on the shortest way home. He had retreated here after
what he had supposed was a robber had fallen at his feet, and at the
cost of a breathless run had preserved the mysterious brass bound box
from theft. He had now safely hidden it in the hay-mow, and awaited
Kate's return to tell her where. It had been almost beyond his power to
keep the secret from Miss Maitland, even thus long, but loyalty to the
discoverer had restrained him. And at last there she was coming across
the pasture, Uncle Moses with her; and what was most astonishing, the
pair were leaning upon one another in an intimacy which made Montgomery
feel rather jealous.

"F-f-f-fudge! I didn't know he liked g-g-girls! He's got his hand on her
s-s-shoulder, an' my, how they do just c-c-cr-creep! Even the pug dog
just bare w-w-waddles, like he's tuckered out," remarked the watching
lad to Sir Philip, who had taken advantage of the day's warmth to visit
the mouse-infested barn and now lay sunning himself on its southern
threshold.

But at the name of dog the Angora sniffed the air and withdrew with
dignity to his throne indoors. He had already learned that Punch knew a
good cushion when he saw it; and, though early provided with one for
himself, preferred the satin couch of Sir Philip to the carpet-covered
one which Susanna declared "plenty good enough for ary dog humbly as
that one." If Punch secured the cushion first he was not easily
dislodged, and since his one great battle the Angora shrank from
contest. Evidently Sir Philip judged discretion better than valor, and
the behavior of the two animals afforded the family much amusement.

Thus deserted of all society save his own thoughts, Monty fixed a keener
attention upon the slowly advancing pair, and presently exclaimed:

"F