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〃It must be。〃
〃He has a sweetheart；〃 Winfield went on； 〃and I expect she'll be dazzled。〃
〃My Hepsey is his lady love；〃 Ruth explained。
〃What？ The haughty damsel who wouldn't let me in？ Do tell！〃
〃You're imitating now；〃 laughed Ruth； 〃but I shouldn't call it flattery。〃
For a moment； there was a chilly silence。 Ruth did not look at him； but she bit her lip and then laughed； unwillingly。 〃'It's all true；〃 she said； 〃I plead guilty。〃
〃You see； I know all about you；〃 he went on。 〃You knit your brows in deep thought； do not hear when you are spoken to； even in a loud voice； and your mail consists almost entirely of bulky envelopes； of a legal nature； such as came to the 'Widder' Pendleton from the insurance people。〃
〃Returned manuscripts；〃 she interjected。
〃Possiblyfar be it from me to say they're not。 Why； I've had 'em myself。〃
〃You don't mean it！〃 she exclaimed； ironically。
〃You seek out； as if by instinct； the only crazy person in the village； and come home greatly perturbed。 You ask queer questions of your humble serving…maid； assume a skirt which is shorter than the approved model； speaking from the village standpoint； and unhesitatingly appear on the public streets。 You go to the attic at night and search the inmost recesses of many old trunks。〃
〃Yes；〃 sighed Ruth； 〃I've done all that。〃
〃At breakfast you refuse pie； and complain because the coffee is boiled。 Did anybody ever hear of coffee that wasn't boiled？ Is it eaten raw in the city？ You call supper'dinner；' and have been known to seek nourishment at nine o'clock at night； when all respectable people are sound asleep。 In your trunk； you have vainly attempted to conceal a large metal object； the use of which is unknown。〃
〃Oh； my hapless chafing…dish！〃 groaned Ruth。
〃Chafing…dish？〃 repeated Winfield； brightening visibly。 〃And I eating sole leather and fried potatoes？ From this hour I am your slaveyou can't lose me now！
〃Go on；〃 she commanded。
〃I can'tthe flow of my eloquence is stopped by rapturous anticipation。 Suffice it to say that the people of this enterprising city are well up in the ways of the wicked world； for the storekeeper takes The New York Weekly and the 'Widder' Pendleton subscribes for The Fireside Companion。 The back numbers； which are not worn out； are the circulating library of the village。 It's no use； Miss Thorneyou might stand on your hilltop and proclaim your innocence until you were hoarse； and it would be utterly without effect。 Your status is definitely settled。〃
〃How about Aunt Jane？〃 she inquired。 〃Does my relationship count for naught？〃
〃Now you are rapidly approaching the centre of things；〃 replied the young man。 〃Miss Hathaway is one woman in a thousand； though somewhat eccentric。 She is the venerated pillar of the community and a constant attendant it church； which it seems you are not。 Also； if you are really her niece； where is the family resemblance？ Why has she never spoken of you？ Why have you never been here before？ Why are her letters to you sealed with red wax； bought especially for the purpose？ Why does she go away before you come？ Lady Gwendolen Hetherington；〃 he demanded； with melodramatic fervour； 〃answer me these things if you can！〃
〃I'm tired；〃 she complained。
〃Delicate compliment；〃 observed Winfield； apparently to himself。 〃Here's a log across our path； Miss Thorne； let's sit down。〃
The budded maples arched over the narrow path； and a wild canary； singing in the sun； hopped from bough to bough。 A robin's cheery chirp came from another tree； and the clear notes of a thrush； with a mottled breast； were answered by another in the gold…green aisles beyond。
〃Oh；〃 he said； under his breath； 〃isn't this great！〃
The exquisite peace of the forest was like that of another sphere。 〃Yes；〃 she answered； softly； 〃it is beautiful。〃
〃You're evading the original subject；〃 he suggested； a little later。
〃I haven't had a chance to talk；〃 she explained。 〃You've done a monologue ever since we left the house； and I listened； as becomes inferior and subordinate woman。 I have never seen my venerated kinswoman； and I don't see how she happened to think of me。 Nevertheless； when she wrote； asking me to take charge of her house while she went to Europe； I gladly consented； sight unseen。 When I came； she was gone。 I do not deny the short skirt and heavy shoes； the criticism of boiled coffee； nor the disdain of breakfast pie。 As far is I know； Aunt Jane is my only living relative。〃
〃That's good；〃 he said； cheerfully； 〃I'm shy even of an aunt。 Why shouldn't the orphans console one another？〃
〃They should；〃 admitted Ruth； 〃and you are doing your share nobly。〃
〃Permit me to return the compliment。 Honestly； Miss Thorne；〃 he continued； seriously； 〃you have no idea how much I appreciate your being here。 When I first realised what it meant to be deprived of books and papers for six months at a stretch； it seemed as if I should go mad。 Still； I suppose six months isn't as bad as forever； and I was given a choice。 I don't want to bore you； but if you will let me come occasionally； I shall be very glad。 I'm going to try to be patient； too； if you'll help mepatience isn't my long suit。〃
〃Indeed I will help you；〃 answered Ruth； impulsively； 〃I know how hard it must be。〃
〃I'm not begging for your sympathy； though I assure you it is welcome。〃 He polished the tinted glasses with a bit of chamois。。 and his eyes filled with the mist of weakness before he put them on again。 〃So you've never seen your aunt；〃 he said。
〃Nothat pleasure is still in store for me。〃
〃They say down at the 'Widder's' that she's a woman with a romance。〃
〃Tell me about it！〃 exclaimed Ruth； eagerly。
〃Little girls mustn't ask questions；〃 he remarked； patronisingly； and in his most irritating manner。 〃Besides； I don't know。 If the 'Widder' knows； she won't tell； so it's fair to suppose she doesn't。 Your relation does queer things in the attic； and every Spring； she has an annual weep。 I suppose it's the house cleaning； for the rest of the year she's dry…eyed and calm。〃
〃I weep very frequently；〃 commented Ruth。
〃'Tears； idle tearsI wonder what they mean。'〃
〃They don't mean much； in the case of a woman。〃
〃I've never seen many of'em；〃 returned Winfield； 〃and I don't want to。 Even stage tears go against the grain with me。 I know that the lady who sobs behind the footlights is well paid for it； but all the same； it gives me the creeps。〃
〃It's nothing seriousreally it isn't；〃 she explained。 〃It's merely a safety valve。 If women couldn't cry； they'd explode。〃
〃I always supposed tears were signs of sorrow；〃 he said。
〃Far from it；〃 laughed Ruth。 〃When I get very angry； I cry； and then I got angrier because I'm crying and cry harder。〃
〃That opens up a fearful possibility。 What would happen if you kept getting angrier because you were crying and crying harder because you got angrier？〃
〃I have no idea；〃 she answered； with her dark eyes fixed upon him； 〃but it's a promising field for investigation。〃'
〃I don't want to see the experiment。〃
〃Don't worry；〃 said Ruth； laconically； 〃you won't。〃
There was a long silence； and Winfield began to draw designs on the bare earth with a twig。 〃Tell m