Anagreeable disappointment dawned upon
her.
Forcedthoughts, trying to solve riddles of her mind
and heart, did not bringher tranquillity. Lucy dressed in less time than everbefore
in her life. Anagreeable disappointment dawned upon her.
The action made her wonderwhy she did it, for last
night she had left the door unbarred.
How had men lived in the long ages before there
were cities orsettlements?
Then the gate creaked, and the musicalclink of
spurs advanced toward the porch. Then the light of the fire streamed out of the
door. Then Denmeade entered, carrying some sticks of wood.
But I guess it might be fearful
onoccasions.
The gate creaked as if openedand shut with forceful
haste. She was able to think and writeconsistently through the hours.
At night her imagination and emotion were always
moreactive. Shore he pitcheswhen one of these long-legged Denmeades rake him. No
doubt she was robbingfather and mother of their room and bed.
Before she opened her eyes she smelled wood
smoke.
Denmeade, Id like to accept the loan of that tent
theschool-teacher offered, rejoined Lucy.
See them clouds comin up out of the
south-west?
The hour seemed a restless, uncertain one for
Lucy.
Their faces had been washed and now shonesweet and
wan in the lamplight. He shifted oneof his enormous boots across the
other.
But to-day we want to get through ploughin before
therain.
It brought the broad grin to hisweather-beaten
face.
Id like to learn totake care of a horse, chop wood,
and line bees. She sat down under a huge pine, from which position shecould see out
across the open.
Suddenly the stillness broke to adeep-ringing,
long-drawn bay of a hound.
An say, mebbe hangin to that long legged boy
whenhes on a bee line, mebbe it aint work!
It swooped downthe chimney with hollow
roar.
Then the gate creaked, and the musicalclink of
spurs advanced toward the porch.
Suddenly the stillness broke to adeep-ringing,
long-drawn bay of a hound. They did not sidle away from her any longer, but had not
yet reachedthe communicative stage. Yet the circumstances here
wereextenuating.
All the family, including Uncle Bill, had assembled
in her room.