Carrington suddenly remembered that he had some thought of starting north in the morning himself, but he was still undecided.  How about it if he deferred his decision until the stage was leaving?  Mr. Cleggett consulted his bookings and was of the opinion that his chances would not be good; and Carrington hastily paid down his money.  Later in the privacy of his own room he remarked meditatively, viewing his reflection in the mirror that hung above the chimneypiece, “I reckon you’re plain crazy!” and seemed to free himself from all further responsibility for his own acts whatever they might be.

The stage left at six, and as Carrington climbed to his seat the next morning Mr. Cleggett was advising the driver to look sharp when he came to the Barony road, as he was to pick up a party there.  It was Carrington who looked sharp, and almost at the spot where he had seen Betty Malroy the day before he saw her again, with Ferris and Judith and a pile of luggage bestowed by the wayside.  Betty did not observe him as the coach stopped, for she was intent on her farewells with her friends.  There were hasty words of advice from Ferris, prolonged good-byes to Judith, tears—­kisses—­while a place was being made for her many boxes and trunks.  Carrington viewed the luggage with awe, and listened without shame.  He gathered that she was going north to Washington; that her final destination was some point either on the Ohio or Mississippi, and that her name was Betty.  Then the door slammed and the stage was in motion again.

Carrington felt sensibly enriched by the meager facts now in his possession.  He was especially interested in her name.  Be liked the sound of it.  It suited her.  He even tried it under his breath softly.  Betty—­Betty Malroy—­next he fell to wondering if those few hurried words she had addressed to him could possibly be construed as forming a basis for a further acquaintance.  Or wasn’t it far more likely she would prefer to forget the episode of the previous day, which had clearly been anything but agreeable?

All through the morning they swung forward in the heat and dust and glare, with now and then a brief pause when they changed horses, and at midday rattled into the shaded main street of a sleepy village and drew up before the tavern where dinner was waiting them—­a fact that was announced by a bare-legged colored boy armed with a club, who beat upon a suspended wagon tire.

Betty saw Carrington when she took her seat, and gave a scarcely perceptible start of surprise.  Then her face was flooded with a rich color.  This was the man who saw her with Captain Murrell yesterday I What must he think of her!  There was a brief moment of irresolution and then she bowed coldly.