nough,
perhaps. An accident--the happiest accident in the world for me--has
given me a chance to see something of you, Lady Betty; but do you
understand that only by an accident could a rough fellow like me have
any place at all in your life, no matter how small or temporary? I
don't want to take advantage of that sweet kindness of yours, which is
partly all your own, and partly the essence of your youth and
innocence."

"Now you are making me very cross," said I. "I won't hear you talk so.
You may laugh at me, because we've known each other such a short time,
but really and truly you are the best friend I've ever had. I wouldn't
lose you for anyone or anything in the world, and _I_ don't mean to,
unless you get tired of me--so, there!"

"Tired of you! Good heavens, I tired of you!"

"Very well, then," said I flippantly, "so far as I'm concerned you
needn't say 'good-bye' to the Valley Farm till you feel the first
symptoms coming on."

"Lady Betty," remarked Mr. Brett, "I wonder if there's another girl
like you in the world?"

"According to my Mother, there isn't another so vexing," I replied.

We both laughed; and then he suddenly said, "Here is Aristo."

I stared about wildly. "Where, where?" I asked.

He laughed a great deal more. "Why, you're looking right at the
postoffice and the grocery and drygoods store."

Sure enough, there was a brown wooden building at the top of a dusty
hill we were just climbing; but there was nothing else anywhere, except
a clear brown creek, and some sweet-smelling meadows with a white horse
gazing in a bored way over rather a queer fence, and some cows asleep
under a clump of maple trees on our side of a young birch grove.

"Where's the rest of it?" I went on. "Where are the other shops, and
the houses, and the people?"

"Oh, the other shops and the houses aren't built yet, but they may be
any time; and then the people will come. But the fact that they haven't
come yet doesn't prevent this from being Aristo. The slow trains from
Cleveland stop just behind that hill, several times a day, which is
very convenient for the farmers in the neighbourhood, otherwise they
would have to go all the way to Arcona, twelve miles away. But you
mustn't think this is the only place you will have to do your shopping
when you're at the Valley Farm. Wait till you see Hermann's Corners.
There's a great Emporium there, and you'll ruffle the feelings of half
the ladies of Summer County if you do