“Indeed she is not!” Ken retorted loyally. “Miss Bayley, next to my mother, is the most beautiful woman that ever lived at Woodford’s or anywhere in all the world I guess. Even queens couldn’t be nicer, and she isn’t thin or homely, though I guess she is pretty old.” Then he dug his bare toes in the dry pine-needles as he added, looking at his friend speculatively, “I guess she’s nearly as old as you are.”
Mr. Edrington’s amused laughter rang out. “Poor girl, if she’s that ancient, she’d better be saving her pennies, for she’ll soon be ready for the Old Ladies’ Home.”
Ken, solemn-eyed, watched the speaker. “She isn’t that old,” he said. “I know, for there’s an old folks’ home over toward Genoa, but the people are bent and sort of hobble and lean on sticks when they walk. I guess, come to think of it, maybe Miss Bayley isn’t what you’d call real old yet.” Then his face lighted with admiration. “Gee, but she’s a good sport, though! She held the pig for me the first day she came to our house while I made the pen, and she didn’t squeal at all.”
“Lucky pig!” the young man commented.
This went over the head of the boy, who remarked laughingly, “The pig didn’t think so. He wriggled so hard, trying to get away, and you just should have heard him squeal. But, gee, didn’t that prove teacher is a brick? Most girls, except Dixie, would have said they wouldn’t even touch a little pig. They aren’t much good, girls aren’t, except Dixie and—well, Carol, she’s doin’ better.”
Mr. Edrington steered the conversation into channels in which he was interested.
“Any newcomers down at the inn?” he inquired, looking closely at the lad. The boy shook his head. “Don’t think so,” he said, “none that I’ve heard of. Why?”
“Well, I was hoping that there were none,” was the non-committal reply. Then he added, “Open an ear, old pal, for if you swear to secrecy, I’m going to tell you why I’m here.”
“Cross my heart and hope to die if I ever do tell,” the boy promised so solemnly that the young man wanted to smile, but thought best to accept the oath as seriously as it had been made.
“Well, it sounds foolish, I know, but I’m hiding from an aunt of mine who wants me to marry an heiress, and since the girl herself agrees with my aunt, I knew my only safety lay in flight. Everywhere I went I was pursued by this elderly relative, who, having brought me up since my parents died, thinks that she owns me body and soul. I do feel a sincere depth of gratitude toward her, but prefer to pay it in some other way than by marrying the girl of her choice, an alliance with whom, I have been assured every day for the past year, would greatly add to my fame and fortune.”