"I like you." Janet dropped her eyes, recalling the day upon the Hills. Devant had met her repeatedly since that morning and had always been jovial and easy in his manner, but the recollection intruded itself at every meeting.
"Perhaps you like me at a distance, but object to my company?"
"I object to some of them!" A wan smile flitted across the uplifted face.
"Well, I am alone now;" Devant nodded cheerfully. "Alone and likely to be. I'm going to remain all winter, perhaps, Janet; you must teach me ice boat sailing and let me into all the other debaucheries of the place." He came near the window and looked out toward the barns. Then he called:
"Mr. Smith!" James B. showed his rough, red head at the barn door.
"Yes!" he called back.
"I ran down to-day, instead of to-morrow. If Mrs. James B. can come up this afternoon and get me a dinner, I'll be much obliged."
"I'm sorry,"—James B. expectorated musingly,—"but she's gone t' get beach plums."
"All right," Devant returned cheerfully, "I'll starve then. Saxton won't be down until to-morrow."
"That so?" James B. had returned to his work unconcernedly.