his charity a little farther and take you home again?"

"Because I did not choose to go with him," she returned, rearing her head
and looking calmly at him as they walked along.

"Bah! What had your wishing or not wishing to do with it? The man knew
where he had taken you even if you did not know. This quarter is occupied
by nothing but negroes and foreign loafers. It was decidedly ungentlemanly
to leave you to return alone at this time of the evening."

"Probably he gave me credit for being able to take care of myself in broad
daylight."

"Probably he never gave it a second's thought one way or the other.
Hereafter you had better consult your natural protectors before starting
out on Quixotic excursions with indifferent strangers."

"Louis!"

She actually stamped her little foot while walking.

"Well?"

"Stop that, please. You are not my keeper."

Her cousin smiled quizzically. They took their seats on the dummy, just as
the sun, a golden ball, was about to glide behind Lone Mountain. Late
afternoon is a quiet time, and Ruth and Louis did not speak for a while.

The girl was experiencing a whirl of conflicting emotions, --anger at