This was Geordie's manner of speech to the bunch of breathing fur that stuck tight to the dead doe's back, whence his fingers were busy disengaging it; but Geordie suddenly found himself on his back in the grass, and when he picked himself up it was Miss Oliver herself who was kneeling where he had knelt, and even going on with his work. It took her some moments, and when done her hands were bloody in the moonshine. Then, first she took that bit of warm fur and nursed it in her neck, stroking it with her chin. And next she turned a calm face up to her companions, and said distinctly to them all, “I call this a damned shame, so I tell you straight!” Indeed she was anything but squeamish. She lowered her eyes immediately, undid three buttons, and slipped the small opossum into her bosom. There she fixed it, with great care, but not the smallest fuss; and looking up once more, saw the three hirelings walking off together through the trees. “I tell you,” she called after them—shaking her fist at their backs—“I tell you it's the damnedest shame that ever was!” The words rang clear through the clear night, then found an answer at Missy's side. “You are quite right. It is. And now won't you get up and come back home, Missy?” “Jack!” cried the girl faintly, as she stumbled to her feet. “I'd quite forgotten you were there.” “I have been here all the time,” said John William. “Then do tell me what I've been saying,” said Missy, anxiously, as she took his arm and they started homeward. “I couldn't see no more and keep my scalp fixed. I hope to God I haven't been swearing, have I?” “Not you, Missy. You've only said what was right and proper. It was cruel, and I blame myself for the whole thing.” “No, no, no! I wanted some sport. I thought I could kill things, and never give a—no, never give a thought to 'em. Now I know I can't. That's all. I say, though, if I did use a swear-word, you won't give me away, will you? I don't know what I said, and that's all about it; but when I lose my scalp—ah well, I know I can trust you.” “Of course you can,” said John William cheerily. And involuntarily he pressed to his side the hand that was still within his arm. “I wouldn't say swear-words unless I did lose my scalp—you understand?” said Missy, coming back to it again. “Of course you wouldn't; but you didn't.” “I'm not so sure. I wouldn't have your parents hear of it if I did; they'd take it so terribly to heart.” “They shall hear nothing—not that there's anything for them to hear.” “Now my parents are different; they swear themselves.” “Come, I can't credit that, you know!” “But they do—like troopers!” persisted the girl. “It's the fashion just now in England. You may not know—how should you?” “Missy,” said John William, as he opened her the gate into the homestead yard, “it's impossible to tell when you're joking and when you're not.”