The situation was extremely awkward, but Ralph felt that loyalty
to Captain Eri forbade his doing anything that might urge the
self-possessed Miss Black to prolong her visit, so for a time he said
nothing. The young lady looked out of the window and Mr. Hazeltine
looked at her. He was more than ever of the opinion that the "middlin'"
term should be cut out of her description. He rather liked her
appearance, so he decided. He liked the way she wore her hair; so simple
an arrangement, but so effective. Also he liked her dress. It was the
first tailor-made walking suit he had seen since his arrival in Orham.
And worn by a country book agent, of all people.

Just then Miss Black turned and caught him intently gazing at her.
She colored, apparently with displeasure, and looked out of the window
again. Mr. Hazeltine colored also and fidgeted with the book on the
table. The situation was confoundedly embarrassing. He felt that he must
say something now, so he made the original observation that it had been
a pleasant day.

To this the young lady agreed, but there was no enthusiasm in her tone.
Then Ralph, nervously fishing for another topic, thought of the book in
his hand.

"I was just reading this," he said. "I found it quite interesting."

The next moment he realized that he had said what, of all things, was
the most impolitic. It was nothing less than a bid for a "canvass,"
and he fully expected to be confronted with the necessary order blanks
without delay. But, strangely enough, the book lady made no such move.
She looked at him, it is true, but with an expression of surprise and
what seemed to be amusement on her face. He was certain that her lips