ght have gold pins, but couldn't improve on that
thorn; I swore that the finest hairdresser in the world would spoil
it; and she laughed and I saw the inside of her mouth--"

"A rose with the bud pinched out," said Lyman.

"How did you know? Did you ever see the inside of her mouth? You've
hit it all right. Yes, sir, that's what you have. Well, I took hold of
the churn dasher and helped her, and she pretended to be afraid that
we might turn the churn over, and our hands came together and I felt
like throwing up my hat and dancing right there."

"Did you find out as to how she stands?"

"Lyman, would you believe that I weakened? I put both my hands on her
hair and I snatched a kiss from her, but she looked up at me and I
weakened; I couldn't ask her. She wasn't scared; she was astonished;
and when she looked down, I kissed the back of her neck, standing
there in full view of the world, and she shivered as if she was cold,
but her face was scarlet."

"Do you call it weakening when you grab a woman and kiss her? I should
think that was rather strengthening."

"I didn't find out how she stood, that is, I did not get it in words,
so I must have weakened. But I think it's all right. After dinner,
while we were in the 'big room,' she showed me a photograph of a yap
and said that it was Cousin Jerry. 'Permit me,' said I, bowing, and I
sailed the picture out into the yard where the dog lay asleep in the
sun. And there it lay, with the June bugs buzzing about it, till I
relented and went after it. I weakened in going after it, but she
pouted and I gave in. I reckon that after all, it's better not to be
so headlong. Many a fellow would have rushed the thing and spoiled it
right there. I am learning patience from you, Lyman."

"Well, don't keep on learning, or you'll get the worst of it. A woman
will pardon a thing that's rash where she would look with scorn upon a
gentle stupidity. You bite like a black bass and I'm a sucker; you
leap up into the sunshine, and I lie under a rotting log. I am
inclined to think, old boy, that there is a good deal of what they
call the chump about me. You have gone to Pitt's and said more than
you intended to say. And look at me: I have not said half of what I
ought to have said. You know where to find your girl, but I have let
mine go away. And I know now that she went away in disgust. However,
I ought not to say that. It might imply that she was impatient with me
and that would mean that sh