She had to pass the Millikens' cottage. There was no other way to go; the most determined gossip would allow that. And everybody knew that Matthew had always worked in the flower garden just before supper-time. She supposed he had other duties, but at all events, between nine and four he was always in his garden, on his front steps, sitting in his open barn door, or washing the top buggy which to her was one of his greatest attractions. As she drew nearer now, she could see him wipe his forehead, pull down his vest, and brush the dirt from his hands. Then he came toward the gate and leaned over it with a pink cabbage rose in his hand. "How'll that do to put in your belt?" he asked genially. "Looks to me as if it had growed a-purpose for that partic'ler spot." There was open, almost violent admiration in his eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Milliken, it's lovely; and I must thank you, too, for the sweet peas you sent me by Tommy this morning. They look so nice on my desk. I've had rather a hard day." "I bet you have!" Matt responded fervently. "Landsakes! I'd rather lay bricks for a livin' than ram book-learnin' into that set o' kids. I'd learn 'em with a switch if I was the teacher!" "Oh! I don't need any switch to keep order," said Undine sweetly. "I'm supposed to be rather good at discipline." "I bet you be! Some o' the teachers suits the parents, and others suits the children. You 'pear to have 'em both under control. The little ones like to look at you same as they would a picture-book, an' the big boys would lay right down an' let you tread on 'em." "I'm glad if it seems that way." This was said with touching modesty. "Of course I couldn't manage those great, strong boys by force." "You bet you couldn't! We had a husky young college feller teachin' here last year, and the boys fit him the whole time--lockin' him out o' the schoolhouse, hidin' his hat, havin' coughin' spells in study hour, stuffin' the stove pipe with hay, and the land knows what! He's given up teachin' now an' is trainin' for nurse in a lunatic asylum. Says he knows what he's up against and likes the work better." "I shouldn't care to have anything to do with crazy folks," remarked Undine sententiously. Matt laughed, showing his handsome teeth. "You may have to, first thing you know, for everybody round here is crazy about you, though they ain't gone to asylums yet!" Undine could do no less than smile and blush at such a neat compliment. "It's a real nice place, Riverboro; the people are so pleasant." "You like it, do you?" asked Matt with obvious eagerness. Undine cooled suddenly. "Oh, yes! But I'm real quick at making myself at home wherever I am. I have to be, to get any variety out of life. Of course I can't afford to teach in such a small place as this very long."