"Well, you can't do anything so friendly to me as to make everything pleasant for Miss Warren. How is her favorite, Old Plod?" I asked, following him into the barn.
"Old Plod be hanged! She hasn't been near him in two weeks."
"What!" I exclaimed exultantly.
"What's the matter with thee, Richard? Thee and Emily are both queer. I can't make you out."
"Well, Reuben, we mean well; you mustn't expect too much of people."
CHAPTER XVI
RICHARD
I came in to breakfast with Reuben, feeling that Dapple had been more of a gentleman than I had, for he had treated the maiden with gentleness and courtesy, while I had thought first of myself. She looked up at me as I entered so humbly and deprecatingly that I wished that I had bitten my tongue out rather than have spoken so harshly.
Straightforward Reuben went to the girl, and, holding out his hand, said:
"Emily, I want to ask thy forgiveness. I've been like a bear toward thee. Thee's the bravest girl I ever saw. No country girl would have dared to do what thee did. I didn't need to have Richard lecture me and tell me that; but I thought thee was kind of down on Richard, and I've a way of standing by my friends."