"This gentleman," said Jean François, presenting him to Nance, "is the parson of the little church yonder. He lives in the cottage down the road and gave me this," indicating by a motion of his hand the provisions he was now spreading upon the grass.
Nance bowed and with some distrust inspected the visitor. He bowed graciously, smiling the while.
"I know your grandfather," he ventured in a pleasant voice, "and I have seen you in Oldmeadow."
"O, yes, I remember you," said Nance quickly, yet without thawing. "Grandfather likes you," she added. Then, frowning and with a touch of sarcasm:
"I suppose you will disapprove of me?"
"Why should I?" he inquired with surprise.
"You are a parson," she said.
"O, I'd forgotten," he laughed, showing a mouthful of splendid teeth. "I suppose I'd better lecture you?" he queried.
Nance laughed, too. His merriment was catching. Then suddenly, with a questioning glance of reproach at Jean François:
"You did not know I was here?"