stooped, and took her by the arm. In the half--light she knew
him then. It was Grant.

"Come over by the pond," he said, in what was almost a command."
I want to talk to you a little."

"Does it occur to you that I might not want to talk t to you?"
Still, she let him help her to her feet.

"Surely. You needn't open your lips if you don't want to. Just
'lend me your ears, and be silent that ye may hear.' The boys
will be boiling out on tho porch, as usual, in a minute; so
hurry."

"I hope it's something very important," Evadna hinted
ungraciously." Nothing else would excuse this ~high--handed
proceeding."

When they had reached the great rock where the i pond had its
outlet, and where was a rude seat hidden away in a clump of young
willows just across the bridge, he answered her.

"I don't know that it's of any importance at all," he said
calmly." I got to feeling rather ashamed of myself, is all, and
it seemed to me the only decent thing was to tell you so. I'm
not making any bid for your favor--I don't know that I want it.
I don't care much about girls, one way or the other. But, for
all I've got the name of being several things--a savage among the
rest--I don't like to feel such a brute as to make war on a girl
that seems to be getting it handed to her right along."