back a little to catch my words. At such times she would also turn her
pretty head partially round so as to see me: then her glances, beginning
at my face, would wander down to my legs, and her lips would twitch and
curl a little, seeming to express disgust and amusement at the same
time. I was beginning to hate my legs, or rather my trousers, for I
considered that under them I had as good a pair of calves as any man in
the company.

Presently I thought of something to say, something very simple, which my
dignified old friend would be able to answer without intimating that he
considered me a wild man of the woods or an escaped lunatic.

"Can you tell me," I said pleasantly, "what is the name of your nearest
town or city? how far it is from this place, and how I can get there?"

At this question, or series of questions, the young girl turned quite
round, and, waiting until I was even with her, she continued her walk at
my side, although still holding her companion's hand.

The old man looked at me with a grave smile--that smile was fast
becoming intolerable--and said: "Are you so fond of honey, Smith? You
shall have as much as you require without disturbing the bees. They are
now taking advantage of this second spring to lay by a sufficient
provision before winter sets in."

After pondering some time over these enigmatical words, I said: "I
daresay we are at cross purposes again. I mean," I added hurriedly,
seeing the inquiring look on his face, "that we do not exactly
understand each other, for the subject of honey was not in my thoughts."