And as for Katy, she mentally called herself a fool for suffering
Wilford Cameron to see what was in her heart; but she could not help it,
for she loved him with all the strength of her impulsive nature, and to
have him leave her so suddenly hurt her cruelly.

For a moment Wilford was strongly tempted to throw all family pride
aside, and ask that young girl to be his; but thoughts of his mother,
of Juno and Bell, and more than all, thoughts of Uncle Ephraim and his
Sister Betsy, arose in time to prevent it, and so he only kissed her
forehead caressingly as he said good-by, telling her that he should not
soon forget his visit to Silverton, and then as the carriage drove up,
going out to where the remainder of the family were standing together
and commenting upon his sudden departure.

It was not sudden, he said, trying to explain. He really had thought
seriously of going yesterday, and feeling that he had something to atone
for, he tried to be unusually gracious as he shook their hands, thanking
them for their kindness, but seeming wholly oblivious to Aunt Betsy's
remark that "she hoped to see him again, if not at Silverton, in New
York, where she wanted dreadfully to visit, but never had on account
of the 'bominable prices charged to the taverns, and she hadn't no
acquaintances there."

This was Aunt Betsy's parting remark, and after Katy, simple-hearted
Aunt Betsy liked Wilford Cameron better than any one of the group which
watched him as he drove rapidly from their door. Aunt Hannah thought him
too much stuck up for farmer's folks, while Mrs. Lennox, whose ambition
would have accounted him a most desirable match for her daughter, could
not deny that his manner toward them, though polite in the extreme, was