stiff and as straight as a
soldier on parade, was ready to be influenced by whatever course her
caller chose to pursue; a kind word spoken at the start would melt her
at once, where a harsh one would raise in her every sort of sullen
hostility and obstinate resistance. She was, as Delia often said to
herself, "as hard to manage as a kicking colt." Sometimes she was
wonderfully docile, but her moods were variable, and oftenest she was
headstrong and wilful, with a fierce repugnance to curb, or what she
considered unwarrantable interference.

But it would have been difficult to convince the stranger at that
moment that Nan could ever be won, or, in fact, that she had any
tenderness to be appealed to. There she stood, looking as erect and
impassive as a young Indian. Her brown hair was in a state of thorough
disorder, and gave a sort of savage look to her sun-browned face. Her
gray eyes were anything but soft at this moment; her mouth was set, and
her whole attitude seemed to be one of imperturbable indifference. In
reality, the girl was apprehensive and embarrassed. She set her lips
to keep them from trembling. Her first impulse would have been to make
a clean breast of everything, frankly and truthfully, but--something in
her nature held her back. Was it obstinacy, or was it reticence?

Her visitor did not wait to discover. She decided the result of the
interview in the first words she spoke.

"Is your name Nan Cutler?" she asked in a voice of stern authority.

"Yes, it is!" acknowledged the girl, instantly on the defensive.

"Then it is you who are accountable for the accident to Ruth Newton?
You urged her to go with you, and when she fell--oh, you are a coward!
It was detestable!"

Nan made no reply, but stood the picture of inflexibility, facing her
accuser squarely.

"I have come to see you, not because you can undo the mischief you have
done to my child, and not because I think I can affect you in the
least, or make you sorry or ashamed, but simply to tell you that I
intend to see that you are punished, as you deserve. I have put up
with annoyance you caused me long enough. Your influence is bad. All
the neighbors complain of you. You are noisy and careless, and rough
and rude. When any one reprimands you, you give a pert retort, or else
pretend not to hear--which is impudent. Unless we wish our children to
be utterly ruined we must see that they are put beyond your influence
at once. You do