Lemuel's face burned with happy shame, and Statira, who was as red as he was, stole a look at him, that seemed to say that there was no use trying to stop 'Manda Grier. But when she went on, “I don't know but it's the fashion to Willoughby Centre,” they both gave way again, and laughed more than ever, and Statira said, “_Well_, 'Manda Grier, what do you s'pose Mr. Barker 'll think?” She tried to be sober, but the wild girl set her and Lemuel off laughing when she retorted, “Guess he'll think what he did when he was brought up in court for highway robbery.” 'Manda Grier sat upright in her chair, and acted as if she had merely spoken about the weather. He knew that she was talking that way just to break the ice, and though he would have given anything to be able to second her, he could not. “How you do carry on, 'Manda Grier,” said Statira, as helpless as he was. “Guess I got a pretty good load to carry!” said 'Manda Grier. They all now began to find their tongues a little, and Statira told how one season when her mother took boarders she had gone over to the Pastures with a party of summer-folks on a straw-ride and picked blueberries. She said she never saw the berries as thick as they were there. Lemuel said he guessed he knew where the place was; but the fire had got into it last year, and there had not been a berry there this summer. Statira said, “What a shame!” She said there were some Barkers over East Willoughby way; and she confessed that when he said his name was Barker, and he was from Willoughby Pastures, that night in the station, she thought she should have gone through the floor. Then they talked a little about how they had both felt, but not very much, and they each took all the blame, and would not allow that the other was the least to blame. Statira said she had behaved like a perfect coot all the way through, and Lemuel said that he guessed he had been the coot, if there was any. “I guess there was a pair of you,” said 'Manda Grier; and at this association of them in 'Manda Grier's condemnation, he could see that Statira was blushing, though she hid her face in her hands, for her ears were all red. He now rose and said he guessed he would have to be going; but when 'Manda Grier interposed and asked, “Why, what's your hurry?” he said he guessed he had not had any, and Statira laughed at the wit of this till it seemed to him she would perish. “Well, then, you set right straight down again,” said 'Manda Grier, with mock severity, as if he were an obstinate little boy; and he obeyed, though he wished that Statira had asked him to stay too. “Why, the land sakes!” exclaimed 'Manda Grier, “have you been lettin' him keep his hat all this while, S'tira Dudley? You take it right away from him!” And Statira rose, all smiling and blushing, and said--