advantages which had come of his contact with this mountain paragon of
womanhood. In his unbounded respect for her he was losing respect for
himself. In the presence of her courage he saw himself more and more
as the coward that he was. He was beginning to long for her as he had
really never longed for any other woman. He wanted to clasp her in his
arms and then and there declare his fidelity to her forever.

"Hurry up, we are late!" Dolly warned him, and she quickened her step.
They were now among the horses and various kinds of vehicles in front
of the meeting-house. A fire of pine-knots near the doorway cast a
weird reddish glow over the scene.

"Come right on up to the front with me," Dolly said. "There will be a
vacant seat or two near the platform. Say, if you laugh at me while I
am speaking--that is, if I _do_ speak--I'll never forgive you--never!"

There was no chance for a reply. She was already leading him into the
crowded room. Every bench was full, and men and boys sat even on the
sills of the open windows. Seeing Dolly entering, somebody started
applause and hands were clapped, whistling and cat-calls rang through
the room, no part of which disturbed the girl in the least as she
calmly walked ahead of her escort finding seats for them on the front
bench.

Eight young men, all neatly dressed, sat in chairs on the platform,
and they smiled and bowed to Dolly.

"That's Warren Wilks at my desk," she whispered to Mostyn. "He is
grinning clear down the back of his neck. Oh, I'd give anything to get
even with him."