"Well, well--she's a quar little critter; mebbe she's mad because
you stayed away so long."

At the table June wanted to help ole Hon and wait to eat with her,
but Uncle Billy made her sit down with him and Hale, and so shy
was she that she hardly ate anything. Once only did she look up
from her plate and that was when Uncle Billy, with a shake of his
head, said:

"He's a bad un." He was speaking of Rufe Tolliver, and at the
mention of his name there was a frightened look in the little
girl's eyes, when she quickly raised them, that made Hale wonder.

An hour later they were riding side by side--Hale and June--on
through the lights and shadows toward Lonesome Cove. Uncle Billy
turned back from the gate to the porch.

"He ain't come back hyeh jes' fer coal," said ole Hon.

"Shucks!" said Uncle Billy; "you women-folks can't think 'bout
nothin' 'cept one thing. He's too old fer her."

"She'll git ole enough fer HIM--an' you menfolks don't think less-
-you jes' talk less." And she went back into the kitchen, and on
the porch the old miller puffed on a new idea in his pipe.

For a few minutes the two rode in silence and not yet had June
lifted her eyes to him.