Frances glanced at the young man shyly. He smiled back at her reassuringly. "Of course!" he said quickly, and for the first time she felt a feeling of warm kindliness to him. She had been on the verge of quite the opposite feeling before. It was some time after this that the professor, who had been quiet and thoughtful, and limited his conversation largely to table affairs, said suddenly, as if he had at last arrived at a conclusion of his thoughts, "Frances, this is the third accident you have had in less than a year." "So it is sure to be the last, father," said Frances gayly from the head of the table. She had been growing steadily more cheerful as he went on talking with young Montague, "Ask Susan!" Susan was hurrying with delight about the table. She had known Edward's father and his mother. He was one of "her folks." "If a thing that never happened before happens once, it's bound to happen three times. It's all over; I'm safe!" The professor began some remonstrance. He had intended then and there to lay down a severely strict law. Instead, "I think I'll look you up a safe horse," he said lamely. "Perhaps Miss Frances will let me ride with her sometimes," ventured young Montague. "Not to take care of me," said that young woman wilfully. "For the pleasure!" "In that case, I shall be glad to go," sedately, "but I shall not wait for you." "There will be no waiting!" They were going into the library and he was holding the curtain to let her pass. Frances looked up at him laughingly, and in that instant she forgave him for playing the hero's part. VII The professor was deeply interested in Edward Montague's plans; well as he had known his father, there was much of that father's later life of which he had no tidings. He had to learn what a house full of children was back there in the valley home, had to learn how Edward was compelled to give up his hope of college training--and this he learned between the lines--and how he had resolved instead to strike out for his own fortunes. "I should have gone back to farming anyhow," the young man answered to some expression of the professor's, "it is my bent, you know, but it needs brains and training as well as any other profession," a little proudly, for he thought the professor would challenge it.