e two very red spots on her cheeks.

"You don't care though, Nan."

"I don't like to see anyone unjustly treated," declared Nan, "and that
is what you've been. You've never had half a chance. And after the way
you've slaved, too!"

"If Lee would wait a little I might do something yet, now that Aunt
Alice is gone," said John bitterly. "I'm not afraid of work. But he
won't; he means to take his spite out at last."

Nan hesitated.

"Surely Bryan isn't so mean as that," she stammered. "Perhaps he'll
change his mind if--if--"

Osborne wheeled about with face aflame.

"Don't you say a word to him about it, Nan!" he cried. "Don't you go
interceding with him for me. I've got some pride left. He can take the
farm from me, and he can take you maybe, but he can't take my
self-respect. I won't beg him for mercy. Don't you dare to say a word
to him about it."

Nan's eyes flashed. She was offended to find her sympathy flung back
in her face.

"Don't be alarmed," she said tartly. "I shan't bother myself about
your concerns. I've no doubt you're able to look out for them
yourself."

Osborne turned away. As he did so he saw Bryan Lee driving up the
lane. Perhaps Nan saw it too. At any rate, she leaned out of the
window.

"John! John!" Osborne half turned. "You'll be up again soon, won't
you?"

His face hardened. "I'll come to say goodbye before I go, of course,"
he answered shortly.

He came face to face with Lee at the gate, where the latter was tying
his sleek chestnut to a poplar. He acknowledged his rival's
condescending nod with a scowl. Lee looked after him with a satisfied
smile.

"Poor beggar!" he muttered. "He feels pretty cheap I reckon. I've
spoiled his chances in this quarter. Old Abe doesn't want any
poverty-stricken hangers-on about his place and Nan won't dream of
taking him when she knows he hasn't a roof over his head."

He stopped for a chat with old Abe. Old Abe approved of Bryan Lee. He
was a son-in-law after old Abe's heart.

Meanwhile, Nan had seated herself at the pantry window and was
ostentatiously hemming towels in apparent oblivion of suitor No. 2.
Nevertheless, when Bryan came up she greeted him with an unusually
sweet smile and at once plunged into an animated conversation. Bryan
had not come to ask her to go to the picnic--business prevented him
from going. But he meant to find out if she were going with John
Osborne. As Nan was serenely impervious to all hints, he was finally
force