“Well, I declare,” said Statira, “that's just the way with _my_ aunt. Now you're up here,” she said, springing suddenly to her feet, “I want you should see what a nice view we got from our window.” Lemuel had it on his tongue to say that he hoped it was not going to be his last chance; he believed he would have said it if 'Manda Grier had been there; but now he only joined Statira at the window, and looked out. They had to stoop over, and get pretty close together, to see the things she wished to show him, and she kept shrugging her sack on, and once she touched him with her shoulder. He said yes to everything she asked him about the view, but he saw very little of it. He saw that her hair had a shade of gold in its brown, and that it curled in tight little rings where it was cut on her neck, and that her skin was very white under it. When she touched him, that time, it made him feel very strange; and when she glanced at him out of her blue eyes, he did not know what he was doing. He did not laugh as he did when 'Manda Grier was there. Statira said, “Oh, excuse me!” when she touched him, and he answered, “Perfectly excusable,” but he said hardly anything else. He liked to hear her talk, and he watched the play of her lips as she spoke. Once her breath came across his cheek, when she turned quickly to see if he was looking where she was pointing. They sat down and talked, and all at once Statira exclaimed, “_Well!_ I should think 'Manda Grier was _makin'_ that key!” Now, whatever happened, Lemuel was bound to say, “I don't think she's been gone very long.” “Well, you're pretty patient, I _must_ say,” said Statira, and he did not know whether she was making fun of him or not. He tried to think of something to say, but could not. “I hope she'll fetch a lamp, too, when she comes,” Statira went on, and now he saw that it was beginning to be a little darker. Perhaps that about the lamp was a hint for him to go; but he did not see exactly how he could go till 'Manda Grier came back; he felt that it would not be polite. “Well, there!” said Statira, as if she divined his feeling. I shall give 'Manda Grier a _good_ talking-to. I'm awfully afraid we're keeping you, Mr. Barker.” “Not at all,” said Lemuel; “I'm afraid I'm keeping _you_.” “Oh, not at all,” said Statira. She became rather quieter, till 'Manda Grier came back. 'Manda Grier burst into the room, with a key in one hand and a lamp in the other. “Well, I knew you two'd be holdin' Quaker's meetin'.” “We hain't at all! How d'you know we have? Have we, Mr. Barker?” returned Statira, in simultaneous admission and denial. “Well, if you want to know, I listened outside the door,” said 'Manda Grier, “and you wa'n't sayin' a word, either of you. I guess I got a key now that'll do,” she added, setting down her lamp, “and I borrowed an old Bible 't I guess 'tain't go'n' to hurt a great deal.” “I don't know as I want to play it much,” said Statira.