certainly stop at the branch and wash the dirt off before getting
home."

"That's a good idea," George laughed. "Come on, Sis!" He caught the
struggling Ann by the arm and began to drag her toward the stream.
"I'll give you a good ducking. Dol' said I could."

Leaving them quarreling, and even exchanging mild blows, Dolly walked
on. "They are beyond me--beyond _anybody_ except an army of soldiers
with guns pointed," she said. "I don't know what Mr. Mostyn thinks of
us, I'm sure. People don't live that way in Atlanta--that is, _nice_
people don't; but he really doesn't seem to care much. He doesn't seem
to notice the mistakes father and mother make, and he lets Uncle John
talk by the hour about any trivial thing. I wonder if he really,
_really_ likes me--as--as much as he seems to. It has been three years
since he first hinted at it, and, oh, my! I must have been as gawky
and silly as Ann. Still, you never can tell; the heart must have a lot
to do with it. I wasn't thinking of looks, or clothes, or the rich man
they all said he was, and I guess he wasn't thinking of anything
but--" She checked herself; the blood had mounted to her face, and she
felt it wildly throbbing in the veins. "Anyway, he seems to like to be
with me now even more than he did then. He listens to all I say--
doesn't miss a word, and looks at me as if--as if--" Again she checked
herself; her plump breast rose high, and a tremulous sigh escaped her
lips. "Well," she finished, as she opened the gate and saw her mother
in the doorway, "people may say what they like, but I don't believe
anybody can love but once in life, either man or woman. God means it
that way just as He doesn't let the same sweet flower bloom twice on
the same stem."