"On me?"
Grace smiled. "Of course! You know it as well as I do. Wouldn't it be better for your friends to put up with a few little grievances rather than run the risk of bringing a worse thing upon themselves?"
"Would we do that?"
"I think so. The major is a lenient commissioner; and the law would be too strong for you."
Sewell laughed. "That," he said, "would have to be proved, and I am not sure it is a good reason you are offering me."
Grace nodded. "No," she said, "perhaps it isn't. You rather like opposition, don't you? Still, I think one could leave it to your good sense, while I would especially like to see all quiet this winter in the Green River valley. That, however, could, of course, scarcely be thought a reason at all."
Sewell made no disclaimer, but he looked at her with a curious intensity.
"Events," he said slowly, "may be too strong for me, and when I am sure they are right, I cannot go counter to my opinions."
"Of course!" and the girl leaned forward a little nearer him, resting one hand on the arm of her chair. "That is more than I would ever ask of you. Still, perhaps you could——"
Sewell looked at her gravely, and laid his hand upon the one that rested on the chair.