"I fell in with your brother," she said. "Bart was up over rounding up some ponies. Him and your father have got ten ponies for Princetown fair and they hope great things from them. But they’ll not do so well as David’s--they ain’t so forward as our three." "A lucky chance this," declared Bartley. "I’m just going up to Ditsworthy myself to see Mrs. Bowden. My dear mother’s weaker and she wants to have a talk with her old friends before ’tis too late." "I’ll tell mother for you," said Rhoda. "Only last Sunday she was wondering if Mrs. Crocker would care for to see her." "I must tell her myself and carry back her message to my mother," answered the crafty lover. His parent had expressed no desire whatever to see Sarah Bowden; but the excuse came as an inspiration to the man. Rhoda said nothing and he spoke again. "Perhaps if you are going that way, you won’t be offended if I walk along with you?" She shook her head, implying that he was welcome. "I’ve gathered a bit more about the backwoods and the life out in the Dominion of Canada, you must know. And I was wondering if, among all your brothers, there might not be one, or perhaps two, as would like to make their fortunes there. ’Tis a pity for all to bide on the Moor." "So I think," said she. "For men to be cooped up, like chickens on a run, is a vain thing. I’d much wish for to see them go out in the world a bit--same as other young men." "If your brother Drake had been spared, I’m sure he’d have gone," said Crocker, with a twinkle of the eye. Madge saw the jest, but Rhoda quite failed to do so. "That’s so silly as mother," she said. "But I should like to see Nap and Wellington under articles to some trustworthy farmer in them parts. ’Twould make men of ’em. The whole family can’t be rabbit-catchers." This common sense impressed Bartley not a little. It was another side of Rhoda, familiar enough to Margaret, but not to him. They departed now together and Margaret heard Rhoda laugh as they went. Such an exceedingly rare sound cheered her not a little. It rang like a hopeful augury, and she rejoiced for Bartley’s sake and went home happy. *CHAPTER XI* *REPROOF*