as readily as
to himself. The thought put him in a rage, while the idea of meeting
Stevens on an equality humiliated him--strife with such a boor was
in itself a degradation. And Loo had brought it about. He could never
forgive her. The whole affair was disgraceful, and her words, "Every
girl expects to be kissed when she goes out with a man," were vulgar and
coarse! With which conclusion in his mind he turned to the right round
the section-line, and saw the mill before him.

After the return from the house-warming, and the understanding, as she
considered it, with Bancroft, Miss Loo gave herself up to her new-born
happiness. As she lay in bed her first thought was of her lover: he
was "splendid," whereby she meant pleasant and attractive. She wondered
remorsefully how she had taken him to be quite "homely-looking" when
she first saw him. Why, he was altogether above any one she knew--not
perhaps jest in looks, but in knowledge and in manners--he didn't stand
in the corner of the room like the rest and stare till all the girls
became uncomfortable. What did looks matter after all? Besides, he
wasn't homely, he was handsome; so he was. His eyes were lovely--she had
always liked dark eyes best--and his moustache was dark, too, and she
liked that. To be sure it wasn't very long yet, or thick, but it would
grow; and here she sighed with content. Most girls in her place would
be sorry he wasn't taller, but she didn't care for very tall men; they
sorter looked down on you. Anyway, he was strong--a pang of fear shot
suddenly through her--he might be hurt by that brute. Seth Stevens on
the morrow. Oh, no. That was impossible. He was brave, she felt sure,
very brave. Still she wished they weren't going to fight; it made her
uneasy to think that she had provoked the conflict But it couldn't be
helped now; she couldn't interfere. Besides, men were always fightin'
about somethin' or other.

Mr. Crew, the Minister, had said right off that he'd make his mark in
the world; all the girls thought so too, and that was real good. She'd
have hated a stupid, ordinary man. Fancy being married to Seth Stevens,
and she shuddered; yet he was a sight better than any of the others;
he had even seemed handsome to her once. Ugh! Then Bancroft's face came
before her again, and remembering his kisses she flushed and grew hot
from head to foot. They would be married soon--right off. As George
hadn't the money, her father must give what he could and