ad yet in Rye; but maybe you
don't care for that sort of thing?"

"No, I don't think I do, and I'm feeling rather tired. We ought to be
starting back before long."

"Oh, not till you've seen all the sights. Joanna ud never forgive me if
I didn't show you the sights. We'll just stroll around, and then we'll
go to the George and have the trap put to."

Ellen submitted--she was a born submitter, whose resentful and watchful
submission had come almost to the pitch of art. She accompanied Alce to
the swings, though she would not go up in them, and to the
merry-go-round, though she would not ride in it.

"There's Ellen Godden out with her sister's young man," said a woman's
voice in the crowd.

"Maybe he'll take the young girl now he can't get the old 'un," a man
answered her.

"Oh, Arthur Alce ull never change from Joanna Godden."

"But the sister's a dear liddle thing, better worth having to my mind."

"Still, I'll never believe ..."

The voices were lost in the crowd, and Ellen never knew who had spoken,
but for the first time that afternoon her boredom was relieved. It was
rather pleasant to have anyone think that Arthur Alce was turning to her
from Joanna ... it would be a triumph indeed if he actually did turn ...
for the first time she began to take an interest in him.

The crowd was very thick, and Alce offered her his arm.

"Hook on to me, or maybe I'll lose you."

Ellen did as he told her, and after a time he felt her weight increase.

"Reckon you're middling tired."

He looked down on her with a sudden pity--her little hand was like a
kitten under his arm.

"Yes, I am rather tired." It was no pretence--such an afternoon, without
the stimulant and sustenance of enjoyment, was exhausting indeed.

"Then we'll go home--reckon we've seen everything."

He piloted her out of the crush, and they went to the George, where the
trap was soon put to. Ellen sat drooping along the Straight Mile.

"Lord, but you're hem tired," said Alce, looking down at her.

"I've got a little headache--I had it when I started."

"Then you shouldn't ought to have come."

"Joanna said I was to."

"You should have told her about your head."

"I did--but she said I must come all the same. I said I was sure you
wouldn't mind, but she wouldn't let me off."

"Joanna's valiant for getting her own way. Still, it was hard on you,
liddle girl, making you come--I shouldn't have taken offence."

"I know you wouldn't. But Jo's