“I don’t intend to anyhow,” replied Kent, coolly.  “How’d you come out, Marg?”

“I walked from the trolley.  I’d no idea it was so hot.”

“Let me take you home in my toot-toot.”

“But I just got here,” protested Margery.

“It’s now or never,” said Kent, rising, “I’ve got to run along.”

“Oh, if it’s that serious!” Margery took Kent’s arm.  “By-by, Lydia!  Come over and see my new dresses.”

After they were gone, Billy sat up and looked at Lydia.  Neither spoke for a few moments.  The sun was sinking and all the world was enveloped in a crimson dust.  There had been a drought now for six weeks.  Even Amos’ garden was languishing.

“Lydia,” said Billy, “I’m going to quit.  You know I’ve worked with Charlie Jackson right along.”

“Quit?  But Billy, why I—­I didn’t think you minded Kent and Margery that much!”

“I don’t mind them at all.  But, Lydia, I found yesterday my father got one hundred and twenty acres from a ten-year-old full-blood boy for five dollars and a bicycle.  Last week Charlie unearthed a full-blood squaw from whom your father had gotten two hundred and forty acres for an old sewing machine and twenty-five dollars.  I’ve done so much for the Indians and Charlie is so fond of you that he’ll shut these Indians up, but I can’t go on, after that, of course.”

Lydia was motionless.  Over the house top, the great branches of the pine were turned to flames.  The long drawn notes of a locust sounded above the steady drone of the crickets.  Lydia had a curiously old feeling.

“I can’t go on, Lydia,” Billy repeated.  “My fine old father and dear old Amos!  I can’t.”

“Yes, you’ll go on, Billy,” Lydia’s voice was very low.  “After I faced what would come to John Levine through this, I can face anything.”

Billy gave a little groan and bowed his head on Lydia’s knee.  Suddenly she felt years older than Billy.  She smoothed his tumbled blond hair.

“Go on, Billy.  Our ancestors left England for conscience’ sake.  And our grandfathers both laid down their lives for the Union.”

Lydia ended with a little gulp of embarrassment.  Billy caught her hand and sat up, looking eagerly through the gloaming at her face.

“I told you all the battles of the world were fought for a woman,” he said.  “Dear, I’ll go on, though it’ll break mother’s heart.”

“It won’t break her heart,” said Lydia.  “Women’s hearts don’t break over that sort of thing.”

“Lydia!” called Amos from the doorway, “aren’t you going to give me any supper to-night?”

“Lord, it’s two hours past milking time!” groaned Billy, and he started on a dog-trot for home.

CHAPTER XVI

DUCIT AMOR PATRIAE

“The same soil that nourishes the Indian and the white, nourishes me.  Yet they do not know that thus we are blood brothers.”—­The Murmuring Pine.