d she said with a
contemptuous sneer in her voice, "I never could understand, David, how you
who seem to have so much sense in other things will take up with such
fanciful, impractical dreams as this railroad. Lemuel says it'll never
run."

Hannah quoted her lover with a proud bridling of her head as if the matter
were settled once and for all. It was the first time she had allowed the
world to see that she acknowledged her relation to Lemuel. She was not
averse to having David understand that she felt there were other men in
the world besides himself. But David turned merry eyes on her.

"Lemuel says?" he repeated, and he made a sudden movement with his arm
which sent a knife and spoon from the table in a clatter upon the floor.

"And how much does Lemuel know about the matter?"

"Lemuel has good practical common sense," said Hannah, vexed, "and he
knows what is possible and what is not. He does not need to travel all
over the country on a wild goose chase to learn that."

Now that she had accepted him Hannah did not intend to allow Lemuel to be
discounted.

"He has not long to wait to be convinced," said David thoughtfully and
unaware of her tart tone. "Before the year is out it will be a settled
fact that every one can see."

"Well, it's beyond comprehension what you care, anyway," said Hannah
contemptuously. "Did you really spend all your time in New York on such
things? It seems incredible. There certainly must have been other
attractions?"

There was insinuation in Hannah's voice though it was smooth as butter,
but David had had long years of experience in hearing Hannah Heath's sharp
tongue. He minded it no more than he would have minded the buzzing of a
fly. Marcia's color rose, however. She made a hasty errand to the pantry
to put away the bread, and her eyes flashed at Hannah through the close
drawn pantry door. But Hannah did not give up so easily.

"It is strange you did not stay with Mrs. Leavenworth," she said. "She
told me you were one of her dearest friends, and you used to be quite fond
of one another."

Then it suddenly dawned upon David who Mrs. Leavenworth was, and a
sternness overspread his face.

"Mrs. Leavenworth, did you say? Ah! I did not understand. I saw her but
once and that for only a few minutes soon after I first arrived. I did not
see her again." His voice was cool and steady. Marcia coming from the
pantry with set face, ready for defence if there was any she could give,
mar