“Kin you?” asked Stevens sharply, turning to him.
“Well enough.”
“We kin try that to-morrow. I'll he in the lot behind Richards' mill at four o'clock.”
“I'll be there,” replied the schoolmaster, making his way again towards the group of girls.
Nothing further happened until the old folk came in, and the party broke up. Driving homewards with Miss Conklin, Bancroft began:
“How can I thank you enough for being so kind to me? You called me out often, almost as often as I called you.”
“I did that to rile Seth Stevens.”
“And not at all to please me?”
“Perhaps a little,” she said, and silence fell upon them.
His caution led him to restrain himself. He was disturbed by vague doubts, and felt the importance of a decisive word. Presently Miss Conklin spoke, in a lower voice than usual, but with an accent of coquettish triumph in the question: