g as he sat cowering
under the laurel shrubs, and set his teeth in anguish and sorrow.

"Cass'll hate hit when she finds out," he muttered.

After a moment, waiting and listening, he heard her long, low call float
out to him. Falling on his hurt spirit, it sounded heavenly sweet.

CHAPTER V

IN WHICH CASSANDRA GOES TO DAVID WITH HER TROUBLE, AND GIVES FRALE HER
PROMISE

After his sleep on Hanging Rock, David, allured by the sunset, remained
long in his doorway idly smoking his pipe, and ruminating, until a
normal and delightful hunger sent him striding down the winding path
toward the blazing hearth where he had found such kindly welcome the
evening before. There, seated tilted back against the chimney side, he
found a huge youth, innocent of face and gentle of mien, who rose as he
entered and offered him his chair, and smiled and tossed back a falling
lock from his forehead as he gave him greeting.

"This hyar is Doctah Thryng, Frale, who done me up this-a-way. He 'lows
he's goin' to git me well so's I can walk again. How air you, suh? You
certainly do look a heap better'n when you come las' evenin'."

"So I am, indeed. And you?" David's voice rang out gladly. He went to
the bed and bent above the old woman, looking her over carefully. "Are
you comfortable? Do the weights hurt you?" he asked.

"I cyan't say as they air right comfortable, but ef they'll help me to
git 'round agin, I reckon I can bar hit."

Early that morning, with but the simplest means, David had arranged
bandages and weights of wood to hold her in position.

She was so slight he hoped the broken hip might right itself with
patience and care, more especially as he learned that her age was not so
advanced as her appearance had led him to suppose.

Now all suspicion of him seemed to have vanished from the household.
Hoyle, happy when the fascinating doctor noticed him, leaned against his
chair, drinking in his words eagerly. But when Thryng drew him to his
knee and discovered the cruel mark across his face and asked how it had
happened, a curious change crept over them all. Every face became as
expressionless as a mask; only the boy's eyes sought his brother's,
then turned with a frightened look toward Cassandra as if seeking help.

Thryng persisted in his examination, and lifted the boy's face toward
the light. If the big brother had done this deed, he should be made to
feel shame for it. The welt barely escaped the eye, which was s