"Ah!" she said, still smiling. "Then I think I heard YOU"--

"I reckon not," he interrupted gravely. "I didn't stay long. I found
the boys hanging round the house, and I allowed at first I'd go in and
kinder warn you; but they promised to keep still: and you looked so
comfortable, and wrapped up in your music, that I hadn't the heart to
disturb you, and kem away. I hope," he added earnestly, "they didn't
let on ez they heerd you. They ain't a bad lot,--them Blazin' Star
boys--though they're a little hard at times. But they'd no more hurt
ye then they would a--a--a cat!" continued Mr. Hawkins, blushing with a
faint apprehension of the inelegance of his simile.

"No, no!" said Miss Milly, feeling suddenly very angry with herself,
the "Fool," and the entire male population of Five Forks. "No! I have
behaved foolishly, I suppose--and, if they HAD, it would have served me
right. But I only wanted to apologize to you. You'll find every thing as
you left it. Good-day!"

She turned to go. Mr. Hawkins began to feel embarrassed. "I'd have asked
ye to sit down," he said finally, "if it hed been a place fit for a
lady. I oughter done so, enny way. I don't know what kept me from it.
But I ain't well, miss. Times I get a sort o' dumb ager,--it's the
ditches, I think, miss,--and I don't seem to hev my wits about me."

Instantly Miss Arnot was all sympathy: her quick woman's heart was
touched.

"Can I--can any thing be done?" she asked more timidly than she had
before spoken.