n' I married
him, an' he opened up his still again in three weeks, an' thar he went
his own way f'om that day."

Cassandra rose and went to the door. "I'm going to make you a bed in the
loom shed like I made it for the doctor. There is no bed up garret now.
I emptied out all the ticks and thought I'd have them fresh filled
against you come back--but I've been that busy."

Soon he followed her out. "I reckon I won't sleep thar whar that doctah
have slep'. He might put a spell on me, too," he said, standing in the
door of the shed and looking in on her. The night was lighter now, for
the full moon had glided up over the hills, and she worked by its light
streaming through the open door.

"I can't see with you standing there, Frale. I reckon you'll have to
sleep here, because it's too late to fill your bed to-night."

"Oh, leave that be and come and sit here with me," he said, dropping on
the step where the doctor had sat when she opened her heart to him and
told him about her father. It all surged back upon her now. She could
not sit there with Frale. "I'll make my bed myself, an' I'll--I'll sleep
wharevah you want me to, ef hit's up on the roof or out yandah in the
water trough. Come, sit."

"We'll go back on the porch, and I'll take mother's chair. I'm right
tired."

"When we git in our own cabin ovah t'othah side Lone Pine, you won't
have nothin' to do only tend on me," he said, drawing her to him. He led
her across the open space and placed her gently in her mother's chair on
the little porch.

"Now, Frale, sit down there and listen," she said, pointing to the step
at her feet where Thryng had sat only a few days before to make out the
lease of their land. Everything seemed to cry out to her of him
to-night, but she must steel her heart against the thought.

"I'm going to talk to you straight, just what I mean, Frale. You've been
talking as you pleased in there, and I 'lowed you to, I was that set
back. Anyway, I'd rather talk to you alone. Frale, our promise was made
before God, and you know I will keep to mine. But you must keep to
yours, too. Listen at me. Mrs. Towers wrote me you had been drunk twice.
Is that keeping your promise to leave whiskey alone? Is it, Frale?"

"You have somebody down thar watchin' me, an' I hain't nobody a-watchin'
you," he said sullenly. She felt degraded by his words.

"Frale, do you know me all these years to think such as that of me now?"

"I tell you he have put a spell