“If Miss Jocelyn thinks that’s the style of girl that takes with me, I might as well have remained a scarecrow.  Amelia Stone seems loud as a brass band beside her,” and his gallantries perceptibly diminished.

True to her nature, Amelia assumed toward him what she imagined were very pretty airs of proprietorship.  Eoger knew well that her manner would have been the same toward the youth with whom, from a sudden caprice, she had broken her engagement for the evening.  Her habitual coquetry nevertheless unwittingly carried out his original programme with a success that made him grind his teeth with rage, for he supposed that Mildred would gain the idea that they were congenial spirits drawn together by strong affinities.

And she, half divining his vexation, shrewdly increased it by pretending to associate him with the transparent coquette, while at the same time manifesting disapproval of her by a fine reserve.  Amelia felt herself scanned quietly, coldly, and half curiously, as if she belonged to some strange and hitherto unknown type, and her vivacious egotism began to fail her.  She was much relieved therefore when Mildred excused herself and went to her room, for careless, light-hearted, and somewhat giddy Belle imposed no restraint.  Roger, however, did not recover himself, for he saw that he had made a false step in his effort to win recognition from Mildred, and he waited impatiently until his companion should suggest returning.  This she soon did, and they rode toward her home with a mutual sense of dissatisfaction.  At last Amelia broke out, “I think she’s absurdly proud!”

“Who?” Eoger asked demurely.

“You know who well enough.  I thank my stars we have no city folks putting on airs around our house.  I suppose you think her perfection.  You looked as if you did.”

“I’m not acquainted with her,” he said quietly.

“Not acquainted!  Darsn’t you speak to her high mightiness then?”

“Oh, yes, I can speak to her when there is occasion, but that does not make one acquainted.  I don’t understand her.”

“I do, perfectly.  She thinks herself a wonderful deal better than you or me.”

“Perhaps she is,” he admitted.

“Well! that’s a nice speech to make to me!  I was a fool to break my engagement and go with you.”

“All right,” responded Eoger, with satirical good-nature, as he assisted her to alight; “we’ll both know better next time.”

She would not speak to Mm again, but he escorted her to her door, and bowed in parting with mocking politeness.  Instead of inviting him in, as was her custom, she closed the door with a sharpness that spoke volumes.

“I don’t believe Miss Jocelyn ever banged a door like that in her life,” he muttered with a smile as he hastened homeward.

Hearing unusual sounds in the farmyard before retiring, Mildred peeped out from under her curtain.  The moonlight revealed that Roger was washing the wagon with a vigor that made her laugh, and she thought, “After what I have seen this evening, I think I can civilize him.”