Chilian will be glad to see you."

The radiant cordiality in her face unnerved him.

"And you?" Yes, he must know.

"Do you have to ask that question?"

The sweet, dangerous eyes said too much, but the smile was that of
amusement.

So they walked up the path together. Mr. Leverett greeted him in a
friendly manner.

"I thought I ought to come in and say good-bye. I'm going off on some
business for father, and may not be back for several weeks."

"That sounds as if you needed an apology for coming at all," she
commented with half-resentful gayety.

He flushed and made no immediate reply.

"And we are going to take a journey as well. Up somewhere in Maine. Mr.
Giles Leverett insists we shall, for our health, but I think it is our
delightful company. He has to go to look after a large estate where some
people think of founding a town. Isn't it funny?" and she gave her
bewitching laugh that was like the notes of silver bells, soft, yet
clear. "They must go off and build up new places. And some people are
going West, as if there wasn't room here. Have you noticed that we are
overcrowded?"

"Well, sometimes along the docks it looks that way."

"I like a good many people. Often Merrits' is crowded, and it's funny to
catch bits of sentences. And at Plummer's as well. Did you ever read
right across the paper, one line in each column, and notice the odd and
twisted-up sense it made? That's about the way it sounds."

How bright and charming she was! Ben could not keep his eyes from her
radiant face. Was she really a coquette, Chilian wondered. Yet she was
so simple with it all, so seemingly careless of the effect. That was the
danger of it.

He lingered like one entranced. Poor young lad! Chilian began to feel
sorry for him.

She walked down to the gate with him, and hoped they would have a nice
time when autumn came, if he meant to stay in Salem.

A young man not in love would have called her a bright, merry, chatty
girl. He went away with the consciousness that she liked him very much.
Chilian asked her if she did.

She glanced up wonderingly.

"Why--he is nice, and being Polly's brother makes it--well, more
familiar. Then we can talk about Anthony. I believe he didn't like him
much at first, but he does now."

Oh, how could he put her on her guard! She was not dreaming of love.
Saltonstall's fancy had died out--no doubt this would, too. Lad's love.
Was it worth ruffling up the sunny artlessness? But he w