"Don't everybody know a boy's mother air bound ter take his part
agin all the worl'?"

"Everybody but me," said the penitent Birt.

"What ailed ye, ter hide it from me? What did ye 'low I'd do?"

"I 'lowed ye wouldn't want me ter go pardners with Nate," he said
drearily.

"I reckon I wouldn't!" she admitted.

"Ye always said he war a snake in the grass."

"He hev proved that air a true word."

"I wisht I hedn't tole him!" cried Birt vainly. "I wisht I hedn't."

He watched her with moody eyes as she rose at last with a sigh and
went mechanically about her preparations for breakfast.

There was a division between them. He felt the gulf widening.

"I jes' wanted it fur you-uns, ennyhow," he said, defending his
motives. "I 'lowed ez I mought make enough out'n it ter buy a
horse."

"I hain't got time ter sorrow 'bout'n no gold mine," she said
loftily. "I used ter believe ye set a heap o' store by yer mother,