working for them there city folks what was a-livin' at Auntie Sue's."

This was, in a way, satisfactory to Auntie Sue, because it assured her
that the girl had met with no serious accident and because she knew very
well the mountain-bred girl's ability to take care of herself in the
hills. But, still, the gentle mistress of the log house by the river was
troubled to think that Judy would leave her so without a word.

Betty Jo was so occupied during the day by her efforts to relieve Auntie
Sue that she had but little time left for thought of herself or for
reflecting on the situation revealed in her encounter with Judy. But
many times during the day the mountain girl's passionate accusation came
back to her, "You-all are a-lyin'! You-all come back 'cause HE is here."
Nor could she banish from her memory the look that was on Brian Kent's
face that morning when he was carrying her in his arms back from the
brink of the river-bank, over which the frenzied Judy had so nearly sent
her to her death. And so, when the day at last was over, and she was
alone in her room, it was not strange that Betty Jo should face herself
squarely with several definite and pointed and exceedingly personal
questions.

It was like Betty Jo to be honest with herself and to demand of herself
that her problems be met squarely.

"First of all, Betty Jo," she demanded, in her downright,
straightforward way of going most directly to the heart of a matter,
"are you in love with Brian Kent?"

Without hesitation, the answer came, "I have not permitted myself to
love him."