“I am much obliged to you for your good opinion,” I replied loftily. And then conceiving that her singular manner was assumed, perhaps, for the purpose of raising a laugh at me, I said, “A very brave man might be allowed to feel a little timid on seeing a loaded pistol levelled at his head. But perhaps you mistook surprise for fear. You see, I was quite unprepared for your very noisy reception. I had heard much of your skill as a marksman, but I had no idea you were possessed of such immense courage as to shoot at a guest from behind a tree.” “A bumpkin!” she muttered, turning on her heel and throwing herself in a decidedly inelegant posture on the sofa. “You may sit down if you like.” I accepted her polite invitation, but with so perplexed a face that I could almost believe the expression on it merited the contemptuous gaze she fastened on me. “Where’s the governor?” she asked. “I beg your pardon?” “My father,” she exclaimed petulantly. “Did you never hear a father called governor before?” “Oh yes, very often. I believe your governor has gone in search of you.” “Well, you don’t need to whistle for a dog when he’s at your feet, do you?” “No, that would be a waste of time.” “Were you ever in these parts before?” “These parts?” said I, not quite sure that I had heard her rightly. “If my father had told me you were deaf, I’d have ordered a speaking-trumpet ready for your visit.” “I am not deaf. On the contrary, I am afflicted with a most torturing sensibility of hearing. In answer to your question, let me say that I never was in these parts before.” “What do you do? Are you clever? Can you draw, and spell, and read?” I was sure now that she was laughing at me, but I thought her taste execrable. “I cannot be certain about my spelling,” I replied, “but I believe I can read.” “How old are you?” “Four-and-twenty.” “Why, you’re a mere boy!” she exclaimed with a loud laugh. “No wonder you’re afraid of noises!” I began to wish that my uncle would come in. I was really alarmed by the girl’s extravagance. There was something indescribably impudent in her manner and a slanginess in her speech, to say nothing of its grammatical deficiencies, that was inexpressibly repulsive to me. Uncle Tom had suggested that she wanted taming, but that word suggested nothing. She stood in need of greater discipline than taming. “Haven’t you brought any messages for me from Grove End?” she demanded. “I don’t want to be thought rude; but really, you seem a perfect stick, without a word to say for yourself.” “Your pistol has blown all my confidence out of me.” “You think me rather outspoken, don’t you?” “Rather.” “Don’t you like outspoken people? I do.” “Pray give me a little time. We scarcely know each other yet. By-and-by I may turn out as outspoken as you like.”