nds held in a tight grasp the hand of
old Sandy's granddaughter, her cheeks were crimson, and her big eyes
were blazing with an expression of mingled wrath and fear.
"Whose youngsters?" he asked, nodding towards them. "They don't all
belong here, do they?" Mr. Coulson turned, and for the first time
noticed the berry-pickers. "Hello! Charles Stuart and John Gordon and
Lizzie herself!" he cried. "Been picking berries, eh?"
"Who's the little brown thing with all the eyes and hair?" asked Mr.
Huntley.
Mr. Coulson took Elizabeth's hand and drew her up to the side of the
buggy. "This gentleman wants to know your name, Lizzie," he said.
"It's 'Lizbeth Jarvis Gordon," said that young lady with great dignity.
She was not the least bit shy or frightened now. Had she liked this
Mr. Huntley she might have been, but she was filled with a longing to
stand up boldly and denounce him as a cruel monster who was trying to
turn Eppie and her grandfather out of Forest Glen. She looked straight
into his face with big, accusing eyes.
"Jarvis!" said the young man in surprise. "That's a familiar name.
Where did you get it, Miss 'Lizbeth Jarvis Gordon?"
Elizabeth gave that haughty turn to her long neck, which the conduct of
Charles Stuart and John so often called forth. She looked away
straight over the fence-tops. It might be rude, it certainly was not
genteel, but she positively refused to converse with a scoundrel who
would ill-use Eppie.
Mr. Coulson looked down at her averted face and tightly closed lips,
and an amused look flitted over his countenance. He understood this
peculiar little Lizzie fairly well, and lately had been feeling very
sympathetic towards her, for special reasons of his own.
"She's a namesake of Mrs. Jarvis," he explained. "But you're not in
favor. There's a deep friendship here, you understand." He nodded
significantly towards Eppie, standing back pale and tearful.
"Oh, I see. And I'm the ogre in the fairy-tale." The young man
laughed. "Well, well, Queen Elizabeth, I hope we'll meet again under
more friendly auspices. In the meantime, here's something to remember
me by." He dived into his pocket, and the two boys behind Elizabeth
gave a gasp of astonishment. He was holding towards her a shining
silver American dollar!
And then, for the first time in his life, John Gordon felt a thrill of
pride in Lizzie. For the little girl stepped hastily back, her hands
clasped tightly behi
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