That afternoon she walked up the road a way and met Sam safely out of view of the house. Sam greeted her with a beaming smile.
It seemed to him that this was his one friend—the only soul he had to talk to. He was little disposed to find flaws in her. As for her age, he had never thought about it. Pressed for an answer, he would probably have said: "Oh, about thirty!"
"Hello!" he cried. "Climb in and drive back with me."
"I can't," she replied with a mysterious air.
"Why not?"
"I mustn't be seen with you so much."
"Why?"
"It seems people are beginning to talk about us. Isn't it too silly?"
Sam laughed harshly. "I'm used to it," he said. "Of course, it's a different thing for you."
"I don't care for myself," she returned. "But my brother-in-law——"