re they are!" he heard Mrs. Whaley exclaiming.

Tilly now released John's arm, stepped forward, and casually explained
the mishap in the chicken-house.

"The same thing happened some time ago," Mrs. Whaley said, pleasantly,
to John. "We've got too many chickens, anyway. I'm going to ship some of
them off."

He told her awkwardly that he would send one of the carpenters up to
repair the damage, and further showed his crudeness by adding that it
should not cost her anything, all of which struck her as being quite
gentlemanly of him, and proving his ability to command men who ranked
lower than himself in the scale of his trade.

They all separated for the night and John went to his bed stirred by
hopes and passions that kept sleep from his brain for hours.

CHAPTER X

The evening of the party came around. John was in his room, dressing for
it, and Cavanaugh was with him.

"It certainly is a new wrinkle for you," the old man said, with a broad
smile. "And I wouldn't bother about not knowing how to dance, either, if
I was you. There will be aplenty that won't take part in that, so you
won't feel odd. La me! I wish I could go look on! I love to see young
folks together. I spied you two the other night long before the others
did, and I noticed how Tilly was leaning against you, and it was by all
odds the prettiest sight I ever looked at, and took me back, back, back!
I believe there is a future life, and in it we'll be allowed to unreel
all the sweet and pretty things we ever wound up in our earthly passage.
I want to see the girls and boys I used to know at your age that have
gone on. Many of them had awful trouble and disgrace before they went,
and some died in pain and poverty, but I don't believe they are
suffering now, and they will come to meet me, too, and lend me some of
their joy. Old Whaley's eternal-damnation idea for some of God's
children don't go down with me. There is punishment--oh, I know that
well enough, but it is here in the consciences of folks that go crooked.
Wait, wait! You can't tie a cravat. It is the first time you ever wore a
white one, isn't it? Let me see if I can do it. I used to know how."

With a happy laugh, John bent downward and the contractor pulled the
narrow strip of lawn into place around the stiff collar and managed to
tie it fairly well. "You will cut a dash, my boy, for that is a dandy
suit, and it fits you like a kid glove. These mountain fellers don't get
as stylish