She came close to him, "Then I want my diploma," she said, for he
had told her about the schools.

Reverently the old scholar kissed her brow. "This is the only
diploma I am authorized to give--the love and homage of your
teacher."

"And my degree?" She waited with that wide, questioning look in
her eyes.

"The most honorable in all the world--a sure enough lady."

CHAPTER XXXI.

CASTLE BUILDING.

The corn was big enough to cultivate the first time, and Young
Matt with Old Kate was hard at work in the field west of the
house.

It was nearly three weeks since the incident at the mill, since
which time the young fellow had not met Sammy Lane to talk with
her. He had seen her, though, at a distance nearly every day, for
the girl had taken up her studies again, and spent most of her
time out on the hills with the shepherd. That day he saw her as
she turned into the mill road at the lower corner of the field, on
her way to the Forks. And he was still thinking of her three hours
later, as he sat on a stump in the shade of the forest's edge,
while his horse was resting.

Young Matt recalled the fight at the mill with a wild joy in his
heart. Under any circumstances it was no small thing to have
defeated the champion strong man and terror of the hills. It was a
glorious thing to have done the deed for the girl he loved, and
under her eyes. Sammy might give herself to Ollie, now, and go far
away to the great world, but she could never forget the man who
had saved her from insult, when her lover was far too weak to save
even himself. And Young Matt would stay in the hills alone, but
always he would have the knowledge and the triumph of this thing
that he had done. Yes, it would be easier now, but still--still
the days would be years when there was no longer each morning the
hope that somewhere before the day was gone he would see her.

The sun fell hot and glaring on the hillside field, and in the air
was the smell of the freshly turned earth. High up in the blue a
hawk circled and circled again. A puff of air came sighing through
the forest, touched lightly the green blades in the open, slipped
over the ridge, and was lost in the sky beyond. Old Kate, with
head down, was dreaming of cool springs in shady dells, and a
little shiny brown lizard with a bright blue tail crept from under
the bottom rail of the fence to see why the man was so still.

The man turned his head quickly; the lizard dodged under