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〃The name of a pretty man； with brass studs and a copper ring and a
tin watch…chain； a little mixed up with your own。 That's all。〃
〃That's a very unkind picture of Mr。 Shiner； for that's who you
mean！ The studs are gold； as you know； and it's a real silver
chain； the ring I can't conscientiously defend； and he only wore it
once。〃
〃He might have worn it a hundred times without showing it half so
much。〃
〃Well； he's nothing to me；〃 she serenely observed。
〃Not any more than I am？〃
〃Now； Mr。 Dewy；〃 said Fancy severely； 〃certainly he isn't any more
to me than you are！〃
〃Not so much？〃
She looked aside to consider the precise compass of that question。
〃That I can't exactly answer；〃 she replied with soft archness。
As they were going rather slowly； another spring…cart； containing a
farmer； farmer's wife； and farmer's man； jogged past them； and the
farmer's wife and farmer's man eyed the couple very curiously。 The
farmer never looked up from the horse's tail。
〃Why can't you exactly answer？〃 said Dick； quickening Smart a
little； and jogging on just behind the farmer and farmer's wife and
man。
As no answer came； and as their eyes had nothing else to do； they
both contemplated the picture presented in front； and noticed how
the farmer's wife sat flattened between the two men； who bulged over
each end of the seat to give her room； till they almost sat upon
their respective wheels； and they looked too at the farmer's wife's
silk mantle； inflating itself between her shoulders like a balloon
and sinking flat again； at each jog of the horse。 The farmer's
wife； feeling their eyes sticking into her back； looked over her
shoulder。 Dick dropped ten yards further behind。
〃Fancy； why can't you answer？〃 he repeated。
〃Because how much you are to me depends upon how much I am to you；〃
said she in low tones。
〃Everything；〃 said Dick； putting his hand towards hers； and casting
emphatic eyes upon the upper curve of her cheek。
〃Now； Richard Dewy； no touching me！ I didn't say in what way your
thinking of me affected the questionperhaps inversely； don't you
see？ No touching； sir！ Look； goodness me； don't； Dick！〃
The cause of her sudden start was the unpleasant appearance over
Dick's right shoulder of an empty timber…wagon and four journeymen…
carpenters reclining in lazy postures inside it； their eyes directed
upwards at various oblique angles into the surrounding world； the
chief object of their existence being apparently to criticize to the
very backbone and marrow every animate object that came within the
compass of their vision。 This difficulty of Dick's was overcome by
trotting on till the wagon and carpenters were beginning to look
rather misty by reason of a film of dust that accompanied their
wagon…wheels； and rose around their heads like a fog。
〃Say you love me； Fancy。〃
〃No； Dick； certainly not； 'tisn't time to do that yet。〃
〃Why； Fancy？〃
〃'Miss Day' is better at presentdon't mind my saying so； and I
ought not to have called you Dick。〃
〃Nonsense！ when you know that I would do anything on earth for your
love。 Why； you make any one think that loving is a thing that can
be done and undone； and put on and put off at a mere whim。〃
〃No； no； I don't；〃 she said gently； 〃but there are things which tell
me I ought not to give way to much thinking about you； even if〃
〃But you want to； don't you？ Yes； say you do； it is best to be
truthful。 Whatever they may say about a woman's right to conceal
where her love lies； and pretend it doesn't exist； and things like
that； it is not best； I do know it； Fancy。 And an honest woman in
that； as well as in all her daily concerns； shines most brightly；
and is thought most of in the long…run。〃
〃Well then； perhaps； Dick； I do love you a little；〃 she whispered
tenderly； 〃but I wish you wouldn't say any more now。〃
〃I won't say any more now； then； if you don't like it； dear。 But
you do love me a little； don't you？〃
〃Now you ought not to want me to keep saying things twice； I can't
say any more now； and you must be content with what you have。〃
〃I may at any rate call you Fancy？ There's no harm in that。〃
〃Yes； you may。〃
〃And you'll not call me Mr。 Dewy any more？〃
〃Very well。〃
CHAPTER II： FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD
Dick's spirits having risen in the course of these admissions of his
sweetheart； he now touched Smart with the whip； and on Smart's neck；
not far behind his ears。 Smart； who had been lost in thought for
some time； never dreaming that Dick could reach so far with a whip
which； on this particular journey； had never been extended further
than his flank； tossed his head； and scampered along with exceeding
briskness； which was very pleasant to the young couple behind him
till； turning a bend in the road； they came instantly upon the
farmer； farmer's man； and farmer's wife with the flapping mantle；
all jogging on just the same as ever。
〃Bother those people！ Here we are upon them again。〃
〃Well； of course。 They have as much right to the road as we。〃
〃Yes； but it is provoking to be overlooked so。 I like a road all to
myself。 Look what a lumbering affair theirs is！〃 The wheels of the
farmer's cart； just at that moment； jogged into a depression running
across the road； giving the cart a twist； whereupon all three nodded
to the left； and on coming out of it all three nodded to the right；
and went on jerking their backs in and out as usual。 〃We'll pass
them when the road gets wider。〃
When an opportunity seemed to offer itself for carrying this
intention into effect； they heard light flying wheels behind； and on
their quartering there whizzed along past them a brand…new gig； so
brightly polished that the spokes of the wheels sent forth a
continual quivering light at one point in their circle； and all the
panels glared like mirrors in Dick and Fancy's eyes。 The driver；
and owner as it appeared； was really a handsome man； his companion
was Shiner。 Both turned round as they passed Dick and Fancy； and
stared with bold admiration in her face till they were obliged to
attend to the operation of passing the farmer。 Dick glanced for an
instant at Fancy while she was undergoing their scrutiny； then
returned to his driving with rather a sad countenance。
〃Why are you so silent？〃 she said； after a while； with real concern。
〃Nothing。〃
〃Yes； it is； Dick。 I couldn't help those people passing。〃
〃I know that。〃
〃You look offended with me。 What have I done？〃
〃I can't tell without offending you。〃
〃Better out。〃
〃Well；〃 said Dick； who seemed longing to tell； even at the risk of
offending her； 〃I was thinking how different you in love are from me
in love。 Whilst those men were staring； you dismissed me from your
thoughts altogether； and〃
〃You can't offend me further now； tell all！〃
〃And showed