down in the valley," she suggested.

"That's it," said he. "Two loops of railroad-iron fastened to a
bee-tree" (he pointed) "just as these loops, here, are fastened to the
straight black stem. That's 'B.'"

"I won't forget," said she, her beautiful young brow puckered earnestly
as she stored the knowledge in her brain.

"And this is 'C,'" said he.

"'C,' 'C'" said she. "Jest take off one of th' loops an' use it by
itself."

"That's so," said he. "And here is 'D'"

"Cut off th' top th' tree," said she. "Just cut it plumb off, loop an'
all."

He laughed. It was clear that she would be an earnest and quick-thinking
pupil to whomever had the task of giving her her education.

As he looked at her, now, he for the first time fully realized her
beauty. He had known, from the first, that she was most attractive, most
unusual for a mountain maid; but now, laughing, although her head was
still bent to the book, her big eyes, sparkling with her merriment,
raised frankly to his face, were revelations to him. He had not seen
such eyes before, and all the old-time similes for deep-brown orbs
sprang instantly to mind. "Fathomless pools," "translucent amber"--no
simile would really describe them. Late hours had never dimmed them,