re no wrap, though there was
always some damp by the river, and speculated in despondency whether
it could be right for him, while he still looked so ill, to be walking
thus by himself? What would happen if faintness overtook him, and he
could not accomplish the distance between him and the town?

Tom Robinson, delicate though he looked, quiet as he was, would not let
Dora have her way. He turned and walked back with her, which ought to
have set one of her fears at rest. And his appearance must have belied
him, for he was clearly in excellent spirits, with not the most distant
intention of being overcome by faintness.

"This is very pleasant," he said, with a smile, and his smile was a
peculiarly agreeable one.

Dora could not tell whether he meant the day, or the road, or her
company, or even her summer dress, which was fresher and better cared
for than when he had encountered the family group "place-hunting" in
London. Dora had owned more leisure lately, and, absurd as it might
sound, her heart had been singing with joy, so that she could not
resist making her dress in keeping with the gladness of her spirit.
Her little fingers had been cleverer than they had ever shown
themselves before in the manufacture of a frock and the trimming of a
hat which would not have disgraced the taste and execution of Miss
Franklin. Yet the materials were simple and inexpensive to the last
degree--a brown holland and a shady brown hat, and about the frock and
the hat some old Indian silk which in its mellowed gorgeousness of red
and maize colours softly reflected the hues of Rose's parrot tulips.

Dora did not dare to ask her companion what he thought so pleasant. It
seemed right to take it for granted that it was the weather, so she
answered quickly, Yes, it was a fine day for the harvest, which she
believed was going to be a good one this year.

"Our present encounter is more tranquil than our last, near this very
spot," he went on, still smiling. "Perhaps it is as well that there are
no disturbing elements of collies and terriers on the scene, for though
I am getting on famously, I am not sure that I am up to the mark of
dragging Tray and a giant assailant to the edge of the bank, and
pitching them head-foremost into the water."

"I should think not," said Dora briefly.

"How 'little May' screamed, and you stood, as white as a sheet,
valorously aiming your stone."

"We were great cowards, both of us," admitted Dora, smiling