ladder, veiling not only her slim ankles but the very heels of her
shoes. When she was nearly at the bottom, he caught her up and set
her lightly on the ground.

"There you are!" he said, with a laugh--"When you get into the
house you can tell Uncle that you are a Rose Queen, a Hay Queen,
and Queen of everything and everyone on Briar Farm, including your
very humble servant, Robin Clifford!"

"And your humblest of slaves, Ned Landon!" added Landon, with a
quick glance, doffing his cap. "Mr. Clifford mustn't expect to
have it all his own way!"

"What the devil are you talking about?" demanded Robin, turning
upon him with a sudden fierceness.

Innocent gave him an appealing look.

"Don't!--Oh, don't quarrel!" she whispered,--and with a parting
nod to the whole party of workers she hurried away.

With her disappearance came a brief pause among the men. Then
Robin, turning away from Landon, proceeded to give various orders.
He was a person in authority, and as everyone knew, was likely to
be the owner of the farm when his uncle was dead. Landon went
close up to him.

"Mr. Clifford," he said, somewhat thickly, "you heard what I said
just now? You mustn't expect to have it all your own way! There's
other men after the girl as well as you!"