The conductor had halted his car for the girls to get off, but, as he remarked with a vicious jerk at his bell-strap, he could not keep his car standing there while a woman was asking about the folks, and the horses started up and left Lemuel behind. “Well, there!” said 'Manda Grier. “'F I hain't made you lose your car! I never see folks like some them conductors.” “Oh, I guess I can walk the rest of the way,” said Lemuel, his face bright with a pleasure visible in the light of the lamp that brought out Statira Dudley's smiles and the forward thrust of 'Manda Grier's whopper-jaw as they turned toward the pavement together. “Well, I guess 'f I've spoke about you once, I have a hundred times, in the last six weeks. I always told S'tira you'd be'n sure to turn up b'fore this 'f you'd be'n in Boston all the time; 'n' 't I guessed you'd got a disgust for the place, 'n' 't you wouldn't want to see it again for _one_ while.” Statira did not say anything. She walked on the other side of 'Manda Grier, who thrust her in the side from time to time with a lift of her elbow, in demand of sympathy and corroboration; but though she only spoke to answer yes or no, Lemuel could see that she was always smiling or else biting her lip to keep herself from it. He thought she looked about as pretty as anybody could, and that she was again very fashionably dressed. She had on a short dolman, and a pretty hat that shaded her forehead but fitted close round, and she wore long gloves that came up on her sleeves. She had a book from the library; she walked with a little bridling movement that he found very ladylike. 'Manda Grier tilted along between them, and her tongue ran and ran, so that Lemuel, when they came to Miss Vane's provision man's, could hardly get in a word to say that he guessed he must stop there. Statira drifted on a few paces, but 'Manda Grier halted abruptly with him. “Well, 'f you're ever up our way we sh'd be much pleased to have you call, Mr. Barker,” she said formally. “I should be much pleased to do so,” said Lemuel with equal state. “'Tain't but just a little ways round here on the Avenue,” she added. Lemuel answered, “I guess I know where it is.” He did not mean it for anything of a joke, but both the girls laughed, and though she had been so silent before, Statira laughed the most. He could not help laughing either when 'Manda Grier said, “I guess if you was likely to forget the number you could go round to the station and inquire. They got your address too.” “'Manda Grier, you be still!” said Statira. “S'tira said that's the way she knew you was from Willoughby Pastures. Her folks is from up that way, themselves. She says the minute she heard the name she knew it couldn't 'a' be'n you, whoever it was done it.” “'Manda Grier!” cried Statira again. “I tell her she don't believe 't any harm can come out the town o' Willoughby, anywheres.” “'Manda!” cried Statira.