She walked on and he strode beside her, stripping the leaves off the shrubs, looking down at her, worshipping her; and she, frail and whimsical, received with unconcern the giant's adoration. "I told the Major that I loved you--" "Told him before you did me, didn't you?" she broke in, glancing up at him. "No, but on the same day. I knew he was my friend, and I didn't know but--" "That he would order me to marry you?" "No, not that, but I thought he might reason with you." "That's just like a stupid man. He thinks that he can win a woman with reason." He pondered a long time, seeming to feel that this bit of observation merited well-considered reply, and at last he said: "No, I didn't think that a woman could be won by something she didn't understand." "Oh, you didn't. That was brilliant of you. But let us not spat with each other, Jim." "I couldn't spat with you, Louise; I think too much of you for that, and I want to say right now that no matter if you do marry I'm going to keep on loving you just the same. I have loved you so long now that I don't know how to quit. People say that I am industrious, and they compliment me for keeping up my place so well, and for not going to town and loafing about of a Sunday and at night, but the truth is there ain't a dog in this county that's lazier than I am. During all these years my mind has been on you so strong that I have been driven to work." She had thrown down her iron weed blossoms and had put her hands to her ears to shut out his words as if they were a reproach to her, but she heard him and thus replied: "It appears that I have been of some service at any rate." "Yes, but now you are going to undo it all." "I thought you said you were going to keep on loving me just the same." "What! Do you want me to?" There was eagerness in his voice, and with hope tingling in his blood he remembered that a few moments before she had called him Jim. "Do you want me to?" "I want you always to be my friend." Under these words he drooped and there was no eagerness in his voice when he replied: "Friendship between a great big man and a little bit of a woman is nonsense. They must love or be nothing to each other." They had now reached the road that led past the Major's house. She turned toward home. "Wait a moment," he said, halting. She stopped and looked back at him. "Did you hear what I said?" "What about?" "Hear what I said about a big man and a little woman?" "No, what did you say?" He fumbled with his hands and replied: "No matter what I said then. What I say now is good-bye." "Good-bye." She tripped along as if she were glad to be rid of him, but after a time she walked slower as if she were deeply musing. She heard the brisk trotting of a horse, and, looking up, recognized Gideon Batts, jogging toward her. He saw her, and, halting in the shade, he waited for her to come up, and as she drew near he cried out, "Helloa, young rabbit."