that she pitied him, and tried to comfort, saying:

"Don't look so frightened, dear. It's only to keep from speaking of what
has happened this morning. That's easy, isn't it? Besides, you are so
young you will not remember long. Other things will drive it from your
minds. At least, I trust so. In any case, you are in honor bound."

With that she rose as if to dismiss them, and went away toward the
seldom used west wing of the great house, carrying the box with her. Her
step was no longer uncertain, but firm and decided. A terrible situation
had suddenly confronted her, and made, for a moment, even her clear
judgment dim; but she had swiftly weighed the consequences, pro and
con, and had settled the wisest course to follow.

Left alone, these young "descendants of honorable men and women"
regarded one another in dismay; and Montgomery was the first to speak,
crying out with all the intensity words could express:

"Oh, ain't it a-a-aw-ful!"

"Huh! I don't see anything 'awful' about it, 'cept your hanging on to me
and making me stay whether or no. That was a dirty mean trick--keeping
me here when I might have got away without hearing."

"Y-y-you knew it a'ready. An' it _was_ in the h-h-h-hay-mow. I'd hid it
there the min-ute I g-g-got to the barn, waitin' for y-y-you. But come
out there n-now. I've got s-s-s-somethin' to tell you," said the unhappy
lad, far too disturbed to resent her sharpness. At which she became
instantly regretful, and slipped her arm consolingly within his, as they
walked toward the great barn, which had from the first seemed to the
city girl the most delightful of structures.

It was further proof of Monty's dejection that he did not jerk his arm
away, nor would he have cared at all who saw him thus being petted by a
"girl." However, once arrived at the great sun-lighted doorway, and
secure even from Susanna's ears, the trouble came out.

"Oh, w-w-what shall I do? I've told it all over t-t-town, a'ready, an'
it's no s-s-se--cret at all!"

Katharine stuck her arms akimbo and stared mercilessly at the abject
creature before her, who seemed to droop and wilt under her gaze as if
he were sinking through the hay-strewn floor.

"You told it?" she repeated, indignantly.

Monty nodded mournful acquiescence.

"Then you--you--you ought to be set washing dishes again, and kept at it
for the rest of your life. So there."

One blue eye was raised a trifle in surprise. How in the world had she
know