ned to her plans docilely enough.

"I mean you to go down to Farington, to Bishop Towahs'. He will give you
work." She had not mentioned Thryng.

Frale laughed.

"Don't, Frale. How can you laugh?"

"I ra'ly hain't laughin', Cass. Seems like you fo'get how can I get down
the mountain; but I reckon I'll try--if you say so."

Then she explained how the doctor had sent for him to come up there
quickly, and how he would help him. "You must go now, Frale, you hear?
Now!"

Again he laughed, bitterly this time. "Yas--I reckon he'll be right glad
to help me get away from you. I'll go myse'f in my own way."

Under the holly tree they had paused, and suddenly she feared lest the
boy at her side return to his mood of the evening before. She seized his
hand again and hurried him farther up the steep.

"Come, come!" she cried. "I'll go with you, Frale."

"Naw, you won't go with me neithah," he said stubbornly, drawing back.

"Frale!" she pleaded. "Hear to me."

"I'm a-listenin'."

"Frale, I'm afraid. They may be on their way now. For all we know they
may be right nigh."

"I've done got used to fearin' now. Hit don't hurt none. On'y one thing
hurts now."

"I've been up to see Doctor Thryng, and he's promised he'll fix you up
some way so that if anybody does see you, they--they'll think you belong
somewhere else, and nevah guess who you be. Frale, go."

He held her, with his arm about her waist, half carrying her with him,
instead of allowing her to move her own free gait, and she tried vainly
with her fingers to pull his hands away; but his muscles were like iron
under her touch. He felt her helplessness and liked it. Her voice shook
as she pleaded with him.

"Oh, Frale! Hear to me!" she wailed.

"I'll hear to you, ef you'll hear to me. Seems like I've lost my fear
now. I hain't carin' no more. Ef I should see the sheriff this minute,
an' he war a-puttin' his rope round my neck right now, I wouldn't care
'thout one thing--jes' one thing. I'd walk straight down to hell fer
hit,--I reckon I hev done that,--but I'd walk till I drapped, an' work
till I died for hit." He stood still a moment, and again she essayed to
move his hands, but he only held her closer.

"Oh, hurry, Frale! I'm afraid. Oh, Frale, don't!"

"Be ye 'feared fer me, Cass?"

"You know that, Frale. Leave go, and hear to me."

"Be ye 'feared 'nough to give me your promise, Cass?"

"Take your hand off me, Frale."

"We'll go back. I 'low they mou