Then he turned to the west and pointed across to the second ridge. "Do you see that gleam of white that stands quite alone?"
"Yes, I think I see what you mean," said Lewis. "'Way down, just below it, you can see the tip of a church steeple."
"So you can," said Leighton. "Well, that gleam of white is Aunt Jed's.
Make for it. That's where you'll find Natalie."
"Is it?" said Lewis, straightening, and with a flush of excitement in his cheeks. "Aren't you coming, too?"
"No," said Leighton; "not to-day. We won't expect you back before supper. Tell Mrs. Leighton that I'll be over soon to see her and thank her."
Lewis started off with an eager stride, only to learn that Aunt Jed's was farther away than it looked. He found a road and followed it through the valley and up the first ridge, then seeing that the road meandered off to the right into a village, he struck off across the fields straight for the distant house.
He had passed through the moist bottoms and come upon a tract of rock-strewn pasture land when he saw before him the figure of a girl. Her back was to him. A great, rough straw hat hid her head. She wore a white blouse and a close-fitting blue skirt. She was tall and supple, but she walked slowly, with her eyes on the ground. In one hand she carried a little tin pail.
Lewis came up behind her.
"What are you looking for?" he asked.
The girl started and turned. Lewis stepped forward. They stood and stared at each other. The little tin pail slipped from the girl's hand.