ant and a couple of other children
this winter, which may be well for superintending the work, as I suppose
you are off again with the swallows, as usual."

"Oh, no, you forget the reservoir and the tunnelling of Three Brothers
for the aqueduct to Bridgeton!"

"Then let it be March first!" said Maria, after hesitating a moment,
during which she stood looking back at Opal Farm lying at peace in the
moonlight; "only, in making the improvements, please do them as if for
any one else, and remember that it is to be a strictly business affair!"

"And why should you think that I would deal otherwise by you?" _The Man_
said quickly, stepping close, where he could see the expression of her
face.

Maria, feeling herself cornered, did not answer immediately, and half
turned her face away,--only for a moment, however. Facing him, she said,
"Because men of your stamp are always good to women,--always doing them
kindnesses both big and little (ask Mary Penrose),--and sometimes
kindness hurts!"

"Well, then, the lease and all pertaining to it shall be strictly in the
line of business until you yourself ask for a modification,--but be
careful, I may be a hard landlord!" Then, dropping his guard, he said
suddenly, "Why is it that you and I--man and woman--temperamentally
alike, both interested in the same things, and of an age to know what in
life is worth while, should stand so aloof? Is there no more human basis
upon which I can persuade you to come to Opal Farm when it is mine? Give
me a month, three months,--lessen the distance you always keep between
us, and give me leave to convince you! Why will you insist upon
deliberately keeping up a barrier raised in the beginning when I was too
stupidly at home in your cousin's house to see that I might embarrass
you? Frankly, do you dislike me?"

Maria began two different sentences, stumbled, and stopped short; then
drawing herself up and looking _The Man_ straight in the face, she said,
"I have kept a barrier between us, and deliberately, as you say, but--"
here she faltered--"it was because I found you too interesting; the
barrier was to protect my own peace of mind more than to rebuff you."

"Then I may try to convince you that my plan is best?"

"Yes," said Maria, with a glint of her mischievous smile, "if you have
plenty of time to spare."

"And you will give me no more encouragement than this? No good wish or
omen?"

"Yes," said Maria again, "I wish that you may succeed--"