t to me you're about the best feller I ever struck
up with."

They talked of affairs on the farm, the hay, the ripening corn. In the
renting of the place a number of ragged sheep had been included, a
contingent sale; and a few months of care had wrought almost a miracle
in the appearance of the flock, so much so that the old woman regretted
her terms and would have withdrawn from them, but Milford had insisted
upon a witnessed contract. They talked about the sheep, the increase to
come in the winter, the sale of lambs in the early summer. They laid
plans for work in the fall, for the cutting and the husking of the corn.

"But I thought you were going to marry," said Milford.

"Yes, but not for a year, Bill. I've got a good deal to attend to first.
I've got to get a divorce, you know. That won't take long, of course,
but a man's divorce ought to get cool before he marries again. I've
talked to my girl about it, and she thinks so. She's a proper thing."

"Did it ever occur to you that she can't be a very proper thing to talk
to you about marriage or to receive attentions from you before you get
your divorce?"

"I don't guess she ever thought of that. But I believe she did say she
wanted I should get a divorce before I said much more about it. It's all
right, anyway. I don't believe in holding a woman to strict rule. If you
force the rule on her before you're married, she'll force it on you
afterwards, and then where'll you be? Well," he added, leaning over to
untie his shoe, "believe I'll go to bed. I'm glad you're pleased with my
work. I want to save up enough to git them shirts, you know. It wouldn't
look right to draw on her at once. Some fellers would, but I'm rather
careful that way."

CHAPTER XVIII.

ACROSS THE DITCH.

Early Tuesday morning a girl from the poor-house went to Mrs. Stuvic's
place. This meant that the season was about closed, that the
"journeyman" cook had been discharged, the "help" told to go, and that
this wretched creature was to do the work. Careful not to appear too
early, Milford came almost too late. The carriage had set out for the
station. He ordered the driver to stop. He reminded Gunhild of her
promise to walk with him across the fields. She declared that she had
not promised, but said that she was willing enough to walk. Mrs. Goodwin
cautioned her not to loiter by the way; it would greatly put her out to
miss the train. Gunhild jumped out, Milford catching at her, and the