She felt beyond all measure abashed. She
must speak to him, but what could she say ?
What must he think ? There was still time
to go into the field and hide until he was
gone by. Her first impulse was to creep
away unseen ; and then the pride and spirit
of the Winterheads, as strong in her, the



124 TWO MEN O' MBNDIP.
smallest, as in any who ever lived, bade her
staad fast.
She would speak out her mind. She
would find a tongue to tell her thanks, ay,
and walk on too a little ways in company,
to show that she, anyhow, harboured no
trumpery false pride or ill thought.
Yet at any moment her father might come
cantering along upon the mare to catch her
up.
She faltered in her purpose, for still she
went in awe of him although her heart was
in revolt.
Ha! an' like enough, Sophia Pierce a-
riding up behind, having a lift upon her
road.
At this every fear and scruple vanished.
What did she care ? Not one straw, whether
she were seen or no.
With the same she went boldly into the
road, and stood there waiting. •

The afternoon sun poured hot upon the
hill. The hedgerow cast a dark shadow
across the white dust. He was just as she
had seen him before, except that now he
wore his hat. His jacket, which he had
fetched, for coolness he was carrying across
his arm. He was coming very slowly, but



AN INVITATION. 125

at seeing her he quickened his pace and
hurried up to where she stood.
He was the first to speak.
He took up the phrase as he had left it,
and hoped she felt nothing the worse.
