said.

"Come now; how long since--"

Sam's limpid deer's-eyes reproached her silently.

"How shall I amuse him?" she said.

And Sam eager to serve her promised to find a pair of rabbits for the
child. "I used to like rabbits when I was young," he explained.

At last, after his hostess had swallowed many yawns, Sam reluctantly
said good night. He went bounding down the hill in the darkness,
across the fields, through the woods. In the starlight, the great
world lay dim and lovely before him--it belonged to him! He felt the
joyous buffet of the night wind upon his face, the brush of boughs
against his shoulder, the scent of young ferns, and the give of the
spongy earth under his feet; he sprang in long leaps over the grass,
the tears were wet upon his fresh cheeks, he sang aloud. But he did
not know what he sang; in his young breast, Love, like some warm
living thing, stirred, and lifted glorious wings and drove his voice
throbbing and exultant to his lips! As he came down Main Street, the
church clock struck eleven. But it might have struck twelve and he
would not have been disturbed.

Standing in the doorway of the Wright house in thunderous silence the
senior warden, lamp in hand awaited his son. As Sam entered, the
silence broke into a flash of crackling and scathing contempt.

"It does not occur to you, sir, I suppose, that a lady may find your