old girls had to do. Yesterday, however, when I paid a visit to Miss
Molly Wood (the Bear Creek schoolmistress), I found her keeping in order
the cabin and the children of the Taylors, while they were gone
forty-five miles to the stage station to meet their guest.

"Well," said Lin, judicially, "Miss Wood is a lady."

"Yes," said I, with deep gravity. For I was thinking of an occasion when
Mr. McLean had discovered that truth somewhat abruptly.

Lin thoughtfully continued. "She is--she's--she's--what are you laughin'
at?"

"Oh, nothing. You don't see quite so much of Miss Wood as you used to, do
you?"

"Huh! So that's got around. Well, o' course I'd ought t've knowed better,
I suppose. All the same, there's lots and lots of girls do like gettin'
kissed against their wishes--and you know it."

"But the point would rather seem to be that she--"

"Would rather seem! Don't yu' start that professor style o' yours, or
I'll--I'll talk more wickedness in worse language than ever yu've heard
me do yet."

"Impossible!" I murmured, sweetly, and Master Lin went on.

"As to point--that don't need to be explained to me. She's a lady all
right." He ruminated for a moment. "She has about scared all the boys