The look of health and carelessness at once returned to her cheek and eye. "Does that matter?" she asked. "Living in an isolated place as we do, it is desirable to cultivate friendly relations with one's kind." It now occurred to him for the first time that for some reason she might be willing to marry below her station. The pathos of her youthful loneliness, even with that additional haunting distress of which he had evidence, lent color to the new idea. "Godson is a very fine young fellow; if he can obtain education he will be most intelligent. He is manly and handsome----" "But?" she asked. "I am perhaps turning busybody in my old age. I thought I saw a difficulty like a snake in your path. If I was mistaken, forgive." "What sort of venom did you fear?" "Presumptuous love." She stood for half a minute, her face blank with astonishment; then her cheeks flamed; but immediately the look of vital interest died out. "Truly, I never thought of that." She bit her lip in meditation. He essayed to speak, but she held up her hand. "I do not want to know your evidence. I know you would not have spoken unless there was need. Only tell me what I must do." If Durgan a minute before had felt rueful with regard to his interference, he was now even more unprepared to meet its successful issue. While he hesitated, she began a quick, practical statement of her case. "I do not want to estrange any friend, however humble. I stand in need of human friends, as well as of my animals." "For protection?" The question came naturally from him; but the moment it was uttered he perceived that she shrank slightly, as if he had broken his compact of silence. "No; not for protection, but to keep me human. My sister has less need for friends; her religion is everything to her, and she loves her housekeeping. But with me it is different; I must get my mind freshened by every human I come across, and these men have work at our place for a month to come. I could make short work of familiarity when it came from men who know better, but these cannot conceive that anyone is above them, and so could not see the justice of reproof. I do not wish to hurt them, and I dare not make them my enemies. Tell me what to do." "If you knew me better, you would not expect me to guide you. I have made too many mistakes of my own. My misfortunes are all my own fault." "Ah, it is only the saints who say that; commoners blame the fates or their fellows." Durgan laughed in sudden surprise. "It is the first time I have been proposed for such a society." "You have been very kind to me," she added impulsively; "I never expected to find so good a friend." He wondered why she should not expect to find friends, but turned his mind perforce to her present problem. "If you could think what it has been in your dealing with young Godson--what avoidable touch of graciousness has set his heart on fire, you might----"