"Dorcas is cheerful enough."
"I like her--best after David," said Madge, a little nervously, as though she talked treason.
Then Mr. Crocker told of the storm and his companion in the Pixies' House.
"Like a damned fool, just because her cheek happened to touch mine, I kissed her."
"Bartley!"
"Well you may stare. Lord knows what come over me to do it; but I got hell for my fun, and so like as not your David will have a bit more to say later on. Him and Rhoda are the wide world to each other. I suppose you know that?"
Margaret's face clouded, but she was loyal.
"Rhoda's a splendid woman, Bartley."
"She is. Now that you won't take me, I believe I shall have a dash at her. But 'twill be a long year afore she forgives this day's work."
He left Margaret soon afterwards and his depression of spirit steadily gained upon him as he returned home. At 'The Corner House' he stopped and drank a while; then he got back to his mother and took a gloomy pleasure in shocking her pride with his news.