crows fell to the floor and he accidently
stepped upon it and snapped its head off. He was gazing solemnly
down at the wreck when the door behind him opened and a strong
blast of damp, cold wind blew in. He turned and found that Mrs.
Armstrong had opened the door. She entered and closed it behind
her.

"Good morning," she said.

Jed was surprised to see her at such an early hour; also just at
that time her sudden appearance was like a sort of miracle, as if
the thoughts in his brain had taken shape, had materialized. For a
moment he could not regain presence of mind sufficient to return
her greeting. Then, noticing the broken vane on the floor, she
exclaimed:

"Oh, you have had an accident. Isn't that too bad! When did it
happen?"

He looked down at the decapitated crow and touched one of the
pieces with the toe of his boot.

"Just this minute," he answered. "I stepped on it and away she
went. Did a pretty neat, clean job, didn't I? . . . Um-hm. . . .
I wonder if anybody stepped on MY head 'twould break like that.
Probably not; the wood in it is too green, I cal'late."

She smiled, but she made no comment on this characteristic bit of
speculation. Instead she asked: "Mr. Winslow, are you very busy
this morning? Is your work too important to spare me just a few
minutes?"

Jed looked surprised; he smiled his one-sided smile.

"No, ma'am," he drawled. "I've been pretty busy but 'twan't about
anything important. I presume likely," he added, "there ain't
anybody in Ostable County that can be so busy as I can be doin'
nothin' important."

"And you can spare a few minutes? I--I want to talk to you very
much. I won't be long, really."

He regarded her intently. Then he walked toward the door leading
to the little workroom. "Come right in here, ma'am," he said,
gravely; adding, after they had entered the other apartment, "Take
that chair. I'll sit over here on the box."

He pulled forward the box and turned to find her still standing.

"Do sit down," he urged. "That chair ain't very comfortable, I
know. Perhaps I'd better get you another one from my sittin'-room
in yonder."

He was on his way to carry out the suggestion, but she interrupted
him. "Oh, no," she said. "This one will be perfectly comfortable,
I'm sure, only--"

"Yes? Is there somethin' the matter with it?"

"Not the matter with it, exactly, but it seems to be--occupied."

Jed stepped forward and peered over the workben