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andand outer the best books。 For why？' sez I。 'It's the same
long； sliding stroke you see in his copies。 There's that long up
sweep； and that easy curve to the right with no hitch。 That's the
sorter swing he hez in readin' po'try too。 That's why it's called
the po'try of motion；' sez I。 'And you ken bet your boots； boys；
it's all in the trainin' o' education。'〃
〃Mr。 Ford；〃 said Mr。 McKinstry gravely； slightly waving a lavender…
colored kid glove； with which he had elected to conceal his maimed
hand； and at the same moment indicate a festal occasion： 〃I hev to
thank ye for the way you took out that child o' mine； like ez she
woz an ontried filly； and put her through her paces。 I don't dance
myself； partikly in that gaitwhich I take to be suthin' betwixt a
lope and a canter and I don't get to see much dancin' nowadays on
account o' bein' worrited by stock； but seein' you two together
just now； suthin' came over me； and I don't think I ever felt so
kam in my life。〃
The blood rushed to the master's cheek with an unexpected
consciousness of guilt and shame。 〃But；〃 he stammered awkwardly；
〃your daughter dances beautifully herself； she has certainly had
practice。〃
〃That；〃 said McKinstry； laying his gloved hand impressively on the
master's shoulder； with the empty little finger still more
emphasized by being turned backward in the net； 〃that may be ez it
ez； but I wanted to say that it was the simple； easy； fammily touch
that you gev it； that took me。 Toward the end； when you kinder
gathered her up and she sorter dropped her head into your breast…
pocket； and seemed to go to sleep； like ez ef she was still a
little girl； it so reminded me of the times when I used to tote her
myself walkin' by the waggin at Platt River； that it made me wish
the old woman was here to see it。〃
Still coloring； the master cast a rapid； sidelong glance at
McKinstry's dark red face and beard； but in the slow satisfaction
of his features there was no trace of that irony which the master's
self…consciousness knew。
〃Then your wife is not here？〃 said Mr。 Ford abstractedly。
〃She war at church。 She reckoned that I'd do to look arter Cressy
she bein'； so to speak； under conviction。 D'ye mind walkin' this
way a bit； I want to speak a word with ye？〃 He put his maimed hand
through the master's arm； after his former fashion； and led him to
a corner。
〃Did ye happen to see Seth Davis about yer？〃
〃I believe I saw him a moment ago；〃 returned Mr。 Ford half
contemptuously。
〃Did he get off anythin' rough on ye？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 said the master haughtily。 〃Why should he dare？〃
〃That's so；〃 said McKinstry meditatively。 〃You had better keep
right on in that line。 That's your gait； remember。 Leave himor
his fatherit's the same thingto ME。 Don't YOU let yourself be
roped in to this yer row betwixt me and the Davises。 You ain't got
no call to do it。 It's already been on my mind your bringin' that
gun to me in the Harrison row。 The old woman hadn't oughter let
younor Cress either。 Hark to me； Mr。 Ford！ I reckon to stand
between you and both the Davises till the cows come homeonly
mind YOU give him the go…by when he happens to meander along
towards you。〃
〃I'm very much obliged to you；〃 said Ford with disproportionately
sudden choler； 〃but I don't propose to alter my habits for a
ridiculous school…boy whom I have dismissed。〃 The unjust and
boyish petulance of his speech instantly flashed upon him； and he
felt his cheek burn again。
McKinstry regarded him with dull； red； slumbrous eyes。 〃Don't you
go to lose your best holt； Mr。 Fordand that's kam。 Keep your
kamand you've allus got the dead wood on Injin Springs。 I ain't
got it；〃 he continued； in his slowest； most passionless manner；
〃and a row more or less ain't much account to mebut YOU； you keep
your kam。〃 He paused； stepped back； and regarding the master； with
a slight wave of his crippled hand over his whole person； as if
indicating some personal adornment； said； 〃It sets you off！〃
He nodded； turned； and re…entered the ball…room。 Mr。 Ford； without
trusting himself to further speech； elbowed his way through the
crowded staircase to the street。 But even there his strange anger；
as well as the equally strange remorse； which had seized him in
McKinstry's presence； seemed to evaporate in the clear moonlight
and soft summer air。 There was the river…bank； with the tremulous
river glancing through the dreamy mist； as they had seen it from
the window together。 He even turned to look back on the lighted
ball…room； as if SHE might have been looking out； too。 But he knew
he should see her again to…morrow； and he hurriedly put aside all
reserve； all thought of the future； all examination of his conduct；
to walk home enwrapped in the vaguer pleasure of the past。 Rupert
Filgee； to whom he had never given a second thought； now peacefully
slumbering beside his baby brother； had not gone home in more
foolish or more dangerous company。
When he reached the hotel； he was surprised to find it only eleven
o'clock。 No one had returned； the building was deserted by all but
the bar…keeper and a flirting chambermaid； who regarded him with
aggrieved astonishment。 He began to feel very foolish； and half
regretted that he had not stayed to dance with Mrs。 Tripp； or； at
least； remained as a quiet onlooker apart from the others。 With a
hasty excuse about returning to write letters for the morning's
post； he took a candle and slowly remounted the stairs to his room。
But on entering he found himself unprepared for that singular lack
of sympathy with which familiar haunts always greet our new
experiences； he could hardly believe that he had left that room
only two hours before； it seemed so uncongenial and strange to the
sensation that was still possessing him。 Yet there were his table；
his books； his arm…chair； his bed as he had left them； even a
sticky fragment of gingerbread that had fallen from Johnny's
pocket。 He had not yet reached that stage of absorbing passion
where he was able to put the loved one in his own surroundings； she
as yet had no place in this quiet room； he could scarcely think of
her here； and he MUST think of her； if he had to go elsewhere。 An
extravagant idea of walking the street until his restless dream was
over seized him； but even in his folly the lackadaisical； moonstruck
quality of such a performance was too obvious。 The school…house！
He would go there； it was only a pleasant walk； the night was
lovely； and he could bring the myrtle…spray from his desk。 It was
too significant nowif not too preciousto be kept there。 Perhaps
he had not examined it closely； nor the place where it had lain；
there might be an additional sign； word； or token he had overlooked。
The thought thrilled him； even while he was calmly arguing to
himself that it was an instinct of caution。
The air was quieter and warmer than usual； thou