m she saw that he was already up. Where
was he? Not working in the garden as usual; off--somewhere.

In her ignorance of character such as his and in the newness of her
emotions, for Nannie was not used to contribution, she exaggerated
matters and fancied that Steve, thoroughly disgusted with her conduct
(as well he might be), had walked off and left her. The sharpness of
her terror as she conceived such a possibility took even herself by
surprise. Until this moment it had never entered her mind that she
might love her husband. Even now she did not fully comprehend the
meaning of her unusual emotion. She only knew that she felt
shame-stricken over what she had done and terrified before possible
consequences.

Her fears, however, were without substantial foundation. Steve had not
as yet seen the uprooted garden, and consequently was still ignorant
of her ill-humor. Long confinement to a work for which he was unfitted
had worn upon him, and he felt the need of rest and change. As of old,
in his weariness he looked to the woods and streams for refreshment,
for although poorly adapted to the wringing of his daily bread from
the soil, he was nevertheless exquisitely keyed to the harmonies of
Nature, and her touch upon his soul was life.

It had been long since he had taken an early morning tramp. In the
city his midnight retirement forbade the snapping of his hours of rest
at dawn, but now that his life was ordered somewhat differently, he
could afford himself the luxury of a sunrise.

With this plan in mind he retired early after setting the hand of his
clock at the hour of four.

The alarm went off with a furious bur-r-r that brought him on his feet
through sheer astonishment. He had not been wakened in such summary
fashion since his last hunting trip, years and years ago. After
staring at the still whirring clock for a moment as he sat on the edge
of his bed stupid with astonishment, he collected himself and began a
hasty toilet. He experienced something of a boy's glee as he donned
his clothes, and when he crept softly downstairs and unbarred the
house door, he seemed to be reviving some of his boyish escapades.

It was not difficult to reach the woods, for the little suburb was
embraced by these primitive arms, and it was like a child's running to
a waiting mother to go out to them. He took no road or given path for
a time, merely tramping through the underbrush that tangled the
woodland; along the edges of ravin