Callista's beautiful mouth set itself in firm lines as she took her chair beside the hearth, motioning Buck to one opposite. Rilly glanced nervously from one to the other, and again looked embarrassed. "Derf, he's opened his store down in the Settlement," she returned hastily to her own affairs, for the sake of saying something, "and he offered Buck a job with him; but I jest cain't stand that old Flent Hands, and so I told Buck."' "What has Flenton got to do with it?" inquired Callista in a perfunctory tone. "Why, him an' Derf's went partners," Buck explained. "Didn't you know about it? Flent's to run the town store, an' Derf this'n up here." Rumor in the Turkey Tracks now declared with a fair degree of boldness that Flenton Hands was getting, or was to get, for Callista a divorce from her husband, and that then they would be married and live in the Settlement. Lance's wife looked her visitor very coolly in the face as she answered, "I certainly know nothing of Flenton Hands's comings or goings. The man made himself mighty unpleasant here. Hit's not my house, and not for me to say who shall be bidden into it; but I did finally ax Gran'pappy would he speak to Flent Hands and tell him please not to visit us any more. I hate to do an old neighbor that-a-way," she added, "but looks like there are some things that cain't be passed over." [318] A swift glance of satisfaction flashed between the newly wedded pair. Rilly rose and went timidly to Callista, putting a hesitant arm about the other's neck. "We come a-past yo' house this morning, Callisty, honey," she whispered, her cheek against the older girl's. "I--Buck an' me wanted to see him; and we hoped--we thort--" Not unkindly Callista pushed the clinging arm away and looked straight into Rilly's eyes, overflowing with tears. "You're not thinkin' what you say, Rilly," she told the girl, almost sharply. "You never come a-past no house of mine. You are in the only house I've got on earth right now, and this belongs to Grandfather Gentry. I stay here on sufferance, and work for what I get. I've got no home but this." "Oh, Callisty--you're so hard-hearted!" Rilly protested. "We come a-past, and he was thar, an' he never hid from us, like he does from most, nor shet the do' in our faces. He let us set on the porch a spell. Oh, honey, he looks mighty porely. Ain't you never scared about what he might do? Heap o' folks tells tales about him now; but he came out jest as kind--jest like he used to be--Oh, Callisty!" Callista's face was very pale; it looked pinched; she sat staring straight ahead of her, with the air of one who endures the babble of a forward child. [319] "Rilly," she said finally, when the other had made an end, "you've named something that I don't allow anybody to name in my hearing. If you and me are going to be friends, you've said your last word about it to me."