"The bank, they're examining the books, swooped down like a lot of vultures and hunting for carrion right now." "For goodness' sake! Martin! Sit up and tell me about it! Don't cover your face as though you _were_ a thief! Of course there's some mistake, there must be! Get up, tell me. Let's sit over on that old log and get it straightened out." Spurred by her words he raised himself and she mechanically brushed the dry leaves from his coat as they walked to a fallen log and sat down. "Now tell me," she urged, "the whole story." Haltingly he told the tale, though the process hurt. "And you ran away," she exclaimed when he had finished. "You didn't wait to see what the books revealed? You ran right out here?" "Yes--no, I stopped at Isabel's." "Oh"--Amanda closed her eyes a moment--it had been Isabel first again! She quickly composed herself to hear what the city girl had done in the man's hour of trial. "Isabel didn't believe it, of course?" she asked quietly. "No, I suppose she didn't. But she cried and fussed and said my reputation was ruined for life and even if my innocence is proved I can never wholly live down such a reputation. She was worried because the thing may come out in the papers and her name brought into it. She's mighty much upset about Isabel Souders, didn't care a picayune about Martin Landis." "She'll get over it," Amanda told him, a lighter feeling in her heart. "What we are concerned about now is Martin Landis. You should have stayed and seen it through, faced them and demanded the lie to be traced to its source. Why, Martin, cheer up, this can't harm you!" "My reputation," he said gloomily. "Yes, your reputation is what people think you are, but your character is what you really are. A noble character can often change a very questionable reputation. You know you are honest as the day is long--we are all sure of that, all who know you. Martin, nothing can hurt _you!_ People can make you unhappy by such lies and cause the road to be a little harder to travel but no one except yourself can ever touch _you!_ Your character is impregnable. Brace up! Go back and tell them it's a lie and then prove it!" "Amanda"--the man's voice quavered. "Amanda, you're an angel! You make me buck up. When you found me I felt as though a load of bricks were thrown on my heart, but I'm beginning to see a glimmer of light. Of course, I can prove I'm innocent!" "Listen, look!" Amanda whispered. She laid a hand upon his arm while she pointed with the other to a tree near by. There sat an indigo bunting, that tiny bird of blue so intense that the very skies look pale beside it and among all the blue flowers of our land only the fringed gentian can rival it. With no attempt to hide his gorgeous self he perched in full view on a branch of the tree and began to sing in rapid notes. What the song lacked in sweetness was quite forgotten as they looked at the lovely visitant.