"Jed was a born fool and yo' can't do much with that kind. They grows more fool-like at the end."
Nancy laughed.
"I'm just a silly myself," she said rising and stretching her pretty arms over her head as if awakening from sleep. Then:
"Mary, I'm going to New York next winter. Going to have—a wonderful time."
And now Mary looked up and her eyes brightened.
"At last," she muttered; "you're to have your chance!"
"My—chance, Mary?"
"Your chance—same as Miss Joan."
And a moment later Mary was watching Nancy as she went singing down the river road.
"Gawd!" she muttered, and her yellowish skin paled. "Gawd! What has she come back for?—what?" and Mary's eyes lifted to Thunder Peak. Later she made ready for a long walk—she knew the trail to Thunder Peak would be hard after the storm.