Again Dick was green with jealousy.
“Bah!” he cried. “The ruffian must have been drunk. Don’t tell me any more about it! In a few years I will be able to handle him. Now we will go back to the house, and you must be careful in your actions not to do anything that will make any one suspect what is going to happen. You will be careful?”
“Yes, Dick. What am I to do?”
“Act just as you always do—not differently. Be happy.”
“I’ll try.”
“Don’t speak a word about it near the house. Don’t let Old Joe know that I have told you.”
She promised, and they started for the cabin, walking hand in hand through the woods. They came to the path after a while, along which they made their way.
Just before they came within sight of the cabin, Felicia suddenly stopped and flung her arms about Dick’s neck, brokenly exclaiming:
“Oh, Dick! how can I let you go away to-night—how can I? I shall lay awake and think about it! I shall know when you meet Old Joe at Black Rock! I shall see you stealing away together! I shall see you hurrying into the mountains!”
“Hush!” he said. “You must not speak of it again till I am gone. We are too near the house.”