As Eliphalet Biggs was going down the south road next morning he met Bim on her pony near the schoolhouse, returning from the field with her cow. They stopped.
"I'm coming back, little girl," he said.
"What for?" she asked.
"To tell you a secret and ask you a question. Nobody but you has the right to say I can not. May I come?"
"I suppose you can—if you want to," she answered.
"I'll come and I'll write to you and send the letters to Ann."
Mentor Graham, who lived in the schoolhouse, had come out of its door.
"Good-by!" said young Mr. Biggs, as his heels touched the flanks of his horse. Then he went flying down the road.