"Just exactly, Ann. I don’t know but more; more set in that direction, as it were." Miss Lovina’s lips twitched a little as she rested her arms on the gate after her guest had gone out, but all her neighbors had reason to know that the milk of human kindness became cream in her case, and Ann Getchell had too often benefited by its richness to feel less than content now. Indeed, as she turned a curve in the country road and hugged closer her brown paper parcel, she soliloquized with much satisfaction:— "I wasn’t sure she’d let me have it. Loviny always does set so much store by what Mis’ Page sends her, and that dollman has got a style to it that I hain’t seen anywhere else. I can get it out o’ my old gray poplin, I’m next to certain. Them spots don’t show hardly at all on the other side—Why, Mr. Gorham!" The spinster started back with a short, shrill screech. "What a turn you did give me! Why," clutching the left side of her dress waist, "I’m all of a tremble. You riz up so unexpected from behind that rock that I—law! I can’t hardly stand up." The young man who had thus rudely interrupted an absorbing sunset dream looked upon the ostentatiously perturbed speaker with some trouble in his absent gaze. "Pardon me, Miss Getchell. The evening is so beautiful, I had thrown myself down in the grass there to listen to the thrushes, and that moment happened to decide I must be moving. I did not hear your soft tread approaching." Over Miss Ann’s agitated countenance there stole a gratified expression. This reference to her soft tread had a pleasing sound. It was characteristic of this young man to appear to compliment when no proceeding was further from his thoughts. More worldly-wise and charming women than Miss Getchell had been similarly misled by him. Nature in mischievous mood had added to his muscular physique the features of a hero of romance, and launched him, a practical joke, upon society. The little woman tilted her thin head to one side with an arch air, and lifted her sharp-nosed face toward his pensive eyes. "Ain’t it a coincidence I should ’a’ met up with you just now? I’ve got a pattern under my arm this minute that your sister’n law sent Loviny Berry. I didn’t know as you was in town." Her companion was anxious to pass on; but sense of duty forbade. He had startled Miss Ann. It would be uncivil to leave her abruptly. "I have but just arrived. I’ve come down for a flying visit to Miss Berry." "Jus’ so. I’ve jus’ come from there, as I said. You hain’t been down in years, have you?" "It is a long time for me to stay away from Pearfield. Good"— "Loviny didn’t say a word about expectin’ you," said Miss Ann curiously. "Do you still like lawyerin’?"