the sweet gusts of south wind; the white apple-trees seemed to
sing, for she could not see the birds in them.

Rose's face between the green sides of her bonnet had in it all the
quickened bloom of youth in spring; her eyes had all the blue
surprise of violets; she panted softly between red swelling lips as
she walked; pulses beat in her crimson cheeks. Her slender figure
yielded to the wind as to a lover. She passed Barney Thayer's new
house; then she came opposite the field where he was at work
ploughing, driving a white horse, stooping to his work in his blue
frock.

Rose stood still and looked at him; then she walked on a little way;
then she paused again. Barney never looked around at her. There was
the width of a field between them.

Finally Rose went through the open bars into the first field. She
crossed it slowly, holding up her skirts where there was a wet gleam
through darker grass, and getting a little nosegay of violets with a
busy air, as if that were what she had come for. She passed through
the other bars into the second field, and Barney was only a little
way from her. He did not glance at her then. He was ploughing with
the look that Cadmus might have worn preparing the ground for the
dragon's teeth.

Rose held up her skirts, and went along the furrows behind him.
"Hullo, Barney," she said, in a trembling voice.

"Hullo," he returned, without looking around, and he kept on, with
Rose following.

"Barney," said she, timidly.

"Well?" said Barney, half turning, with a slight show of courtesy.

"Do you know if Rebecca is at home?"

"I don't know whether she is or not."

Barney held stubbornly to his rocking plough, and Rose followed.

"Barney," said she, again.

"Well?"

"Stop a minute, and look round here."

"I can't stop to talk."

"Yes, you can; just a minute. Look round here."

Barney stopped, and turned a stern, miserable face over his shoulder.

"I've been up to Charlotte's," Rose said.

"I don't know what that is to me."

"Barney Thayer, ain't you ashamed of yourself?"

"I can't stop to talk."

"Yes, you can. Look here. Charlotte feels awfully."

Barney stood with his back to Rose; his very shoulders had a dogged
look.

"Barney, why don't you make up with her?"

Barney stood still.

"Barney, she feels awfully because you didn't come back when she
called you last night."

Barney made no reply. He and the white horse stood like statues.

"Barney, why don't you m