sa many times, and
uniformly called her Miss Very. Finally Rosa said, "Wouldn't you just as
soon call me Rosa? Miss Very seems so stiff and formal."

"I hope you will not consider me uncompanionable or set in my ways,"
remarked Alice. "We are working, you know, and not playing," she
continued with a sweet smile. "I have no doubt you are worthy of both my
esteem and love, but I have known you less than a day and such things
come slowly with me. Let me call you Miss Very, because you are that to
me now. When the time comes, as I feel it will, to call you Rosa, it
shall come from a full heart. When I call you Rosa, it will be because I
love you, and, after that, nothing will ever change my feelings towards
you."

"I understand you," replied Rosa. "I will work and wait."

Quincy arrived at about the same time of day that he did when he came
with Rosa. Miss Very had gone to her room, so that he saw Alice alone.
He told her that his aunt was greatly pleased at her acceptance and
would be ready to receive her at any time that it was convenient for her
to come. He proffered his services to aid her in getting ready for the
journey, but she told him that with Miss Very's help she would need no
other assistance.

"I have another matter of business to speak about," continued she, "and
if you will kindly attend to that, when you go to Montrose, it will
oblige me very much. You are always doing something to make me your
debtor," she added with a smile.

"I would do more if you would allow me," replied Quincy.

"The fact is," said Alice, "'Zekiel does not wish to borrow any money,
nor would he accept the gift of the Putnam homestead unless he, in turn,
deeded this house and farm to me. He is going to run this farm and pay
me what he gets from the sale of products. If you will have Squire
Rundlett draw up both deeds and the agreement, the whole matter can be
fixed before I go away."

Quincy promised to give his attention to the matter that afternoon. He
drove up to his boarding house and hitched his horse at the front door.
Mrs. Hawkins saw him enter and take his seat at the dinner table.
"There's that Mr. Sawyer; he's slept in this house just one night and
eaten just one meal up to this noon for nigh on a week. Them city folks
must have Injun rubber stummicks and cast iron backs or they couldn't
eat in so many different places and sleep in so many different beds.
Why, if I go away and stay over night, when I git home I'm allus