g rather provoked at Lute for giving Captain Jed the
information concerning my interview with Colton; but, somehow, this
other bit of news restored my good humor. When I started for the village
I did not take the short cut across the fields, but followed my regular
route, the path by the bluff and the Shore Lane. I was no longer fearful
of meeting my new neighbors. The memory of the happenings in the bay was
a delightful solace to my wounded self-respect. I chuckled over it as
I walked through the dripping pines of the little grove. No matter how
contemptuously indifferent that girl might pretend to be she would
not forget what had taken place; that she had been obliged to obey my
orders; that I had carried her to that skiff; that I had saved her from
a danger--not a great danger, and against her will, of course--but saved
her nevertheless. She was under an obligation to me; she could not help
herself. How that must gall her. I remembered the look on her face as I
rowed away. Sweet was revenge. And Victor--Victor was a joke.

When I reached the Lane I looked over at the Colton mansion. The rain
had given the carpenters and painters an enforced holiday, and, except
for the chauffeur, whom I could see through the open door of the garage,
there was no one in sight. I think I was a little disappointed. If "Big
Jim" had appeared and hailed me with another offer for the land I should
not have dodged. I was ready for him. But neither he, or any one else,
appeared and I walked on.

At the Corners, Sim Eldredge shouted to me from the platform of his
store.

"Hi, Ros!" he shouted. "You! Ros Paine! come here a minute, will you?"

I did not want to see him. I had intended avoiding the post-office
altogether. But I crossed to the platform.

"Say, Ros," he asked eagerly, "what's this about you and Mr. Colton?"

I was annoyed.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Why, you know, don't you? He come to see you and you went to see him
over to his house. You had a reg'lar argument, I understand. About the
Shore Lane, wan't it?"

"Who told you that?" I inquired, sharply.

"Why, nobody told me, exactly. Lute Rogers and Cap'n Jed was here last
night and they got a-goin' as usual. The Cap'n does love to stir up
Lute, and he commenced hintin' about somethin' of the kind. I don't know
as they was hints, either, but Lute thought they was."

He grinned. I understood.

"I see," I said. "Well, what did Lute say?"

"I suppose he'd say he n