“As for his courage,” said Eve, “that we have only his own word for.”

David grinned.

“Not even that,” replied Lucy, “for I observed he spoke but little of himself.”

“I did not notice that,” said Eve, pertly; “but as for his strength, he certainly is as strong as a great bear, and as rude.  What do you think? my lord carried me all the way from the top of the green lane to your house, and I am no feather.”

“No, a skein of silk,” put in David.

“I asked the gentleman politely to put me down, and he wouldn’t, so then I boxed his ears.”

“Oh, how could you?”

“Oh, bless you, he never hits me again; he is too great a coward.  And the great mule carried me all the more—­carried me to your very door.”

“I almost think—­I believe I could guess why he carried you, if you will not be offended at my assuming the interpreter,” said Lucy, looking at Eve and speaking at David.  “You have thin shoes on, Miss Dodd; now I remember the gravel ends at green lane, and the grass begins; so, from what we know of Mr. Dodd, perhaps he carried you that you might not have damp feet.”

“Nothing of the kind—­yes, it was, though, by his coloring up.  La!  David, dear boy!”

“What is a man alongside for but to keep a girl out of mischief?” said David, bruskly.

“Pray convert all your sex to that view,” laughed Lucy.

So now they were going.  Then Mr. Fountain thanked David for the pleasant evening he had given them; then David blushed and stammered.  He had a veneration for old age—­another of his superstitions.

Her uncle’s lead gave Lucy an opportunity she instantly seized.  “Mr. Dodd, you have taken us into a new world of knowledge; we never were so interested in our lives.”  At this pointblank praise David blushed, and was anything but comfortable, and began to back out of it all with a curt bow.  Then, as the ladies can advance when a man of merit retreats, Lucy went the length of putting out her hand with a sweet, grateful smile; so he took it, and, in the ardor of encouraging so much spirit and modesty, she unconsciously pressed it.  On this delicious pressure, light as it was, he raised his full brown eye, and gave her such a straightforward look of manly admiration and pleasure that she blushed faintly and drew back a little in her turn.

“Well, Davy, dear, how do you like the Fountains?”

“Eve, she is a clipper!”

“And the old gentleman?”

“He was very friendly.  What do you think of her?”

“She is an out-and-out woman of the world, and very agreeable, as insincere people generally are.  I like her because she was so polite to you.”

“Oh, that is your reading of her, is it?”

The rest of the walk passed almost in silence.

“Uncle, I am not sleepy to-night.”

“Who is? that young rascal has set me on fire with his yarns.  Who would have thought that awkward cub had so much in him?”