“Who has said there was any harm?” The path was only broad enough for one and she was walking first.  Larry was following her and the girls were behind him.

“I think that Mr. Morton is a very stuck-up fellow,” said Kate, who was the last.

“Hold your tongue, Kate,” said Mary.  “You don’t know what you are talking about”

“I know as well as any one when a person is good-natured.  What made him go off in that hoity-toity fashion?  Nobody had said anything to him.”

“He always looks as though he were going to eat somebody,” said Dolly.

“He shan’t eat me,” said Kate.

Then there was a pause, during which they all went along quickly, Mary leading the way.  Larry felt that he was wasting his opportunity; and yet hardly knew how to use it, feeling that the girl was angry with him.

“I wish you’d say, Mary, whether you think that I did anything wrong?”

“Nothing wrong to me, Mr. Twentyman.”

“Did I do anything wrong to him?”

“I don’t know how far you may be acquainted with him.  He was proposing to go somewhere, and you offered to go with him.”

“I offered to go with you,” said Larry, sturdily.  “I suppose I’m sufficiently acquainted with you.”

“Quite so,” said Mary.

“Why should he be so proud?  I never said an uncivil word to him.  He’s nothing to me.  If he can do without me, I’m sure that I can do without him.”

“Very well indeed, I should think.”

“The truth is, Mary—­”

“There has been quite enough said about it, Mr. Twentyman.”

“The truth is, Mary, I came on purpose to have a word with you.”  Hearing this, Kate rushed on and pulled Larry by the tail of his coat.

“How did you know I was to be there?” demanded Mary sharply.

“I didn’t know.  I had reason to think you perhaps might be there.  The girls I knew had been asking you to come as far as the bridge.  At any rate I took my chance.  I’d seen him some time before, and then I saw you.”

“If I’m to be watched about in that way,” said Mary angrily, “I won’t go out at all.”

“Of course I want to see you.  Why shouldn’t I?  I’m all fair and above board;—­ain’t I?  Your father and mother know all about it.  It isn’t as though I were doing anything clandestine.”  He paused for a reply, but Mary walked on in silence.  She knew quite well that he was warranted in seeking her, and that nothing but a very positive decision on her part could put an end to his courtship.  At the present moment she was inclined to be very positive, but he had hardly as yet given her an opportunity of speaking out.  “I think you know, Mary, what it is that I want.”  They were now at a rough stile which enabled him to come close up to her and help her.  She tripped over the stile with a light step and again walked on rapidly.  The field they were in enabled him to get up to her side, and now if ever was his opportunity.  It