ght one" was handsome, but Mrs. Theodora
looked upon him with sour disapproval. He owned a stony little farm at
the remote end of Ramble Valley and was reputed to be fonder of many
things than of work. To be sure, Judith had enough capability and
energy for two; but Mrs. Theodora detested a lazy man. She ordered
Judith not to encourage him and Judith obeyed. Judith generally obeyed
her aunt; but, though she renounced Bruce Marshall, she would have
nothing to do with Eben King or anybody else and all Mrs. Theodora's
grumblings did not mend matters.

The afternoon that Mrs. Tony Mack came in Mrs. Theodora felt more
aggrieved than ever. Ellie McGregor had been married the previous
week--Ellie, who was the same age as Judith and not half so good
looking. Mrs. Theodora had been nagging Judith ever since.

"But I might as well talk to the trees down there in that hollow," she
complained to Mrs. Tony. "That girl is so set and contrary minded. She
doesn't care a bit for my feelings."

This was not said behind Judith's back. The girl herself was standing
at the open door, drinking in all the delicate, evasive beauty of the
spring afternoon. The Whitney house crested a bare hill that looked
down on misty intervals, feathered with young firs that were golden
green in the pale sunlight. The fields were bare and smoking, although
the lanes and shadowy places were full of moist snow. Judith's face
was aglow with the delight of mere life and she bent out to front the
brisk, dancing wind that blew up from the valley, resinous with the
odors of firs and damp mosses.

At her aunt's words the glow went out of her face. She listened with
her eyes brooding on the hollow and a glowing flame of temper
smouldering in them. Judith's long patience was giving way. She had
been flicked on the raw too often of late. And now her aunt was
confiding her grievances to Mrs. Tony Mack--the most notorious gossip
in Ramble Valley or out of it!

"I can't sleep at nights for worrying over what will become of her
when I'm gone," went on Mrs. Theodora dismally. "She'll just have to
live on alone here--a lonesome, withered-up old maid. And her that
might have had her pick, Mrs. Tony, though I do say it as shouldn't.
You must feel real thankful to have all your girls married
off--especially when none of them was extry good-looking. Some people
have all the luck. I'm tired of talking to Judith. Folks'll be saying
soon that nobody ever really wanted her, for