"I guess I'm getting Mr. Hacket's gift o' gab," I said to myself.
Again I heard the sound of galloping hoofs and as I looked back I saw Sally rounding the turn by the river and coming toward me at full speed, the mane of her pony flying back to her face. She pulled up beside me just as I had imagined she would do.
"Bart, I hate somebody terribly," said she.
"Whom?"
"A man who is coming to our house on the stage to-day. Granny Barnes is trying to get up a match between us. Father says he is rich and hopes he will want to marry me. I got mad about it. He is four years older than I am. Isn't that awful? I am going to be just as mean and hateful to him as I can."
"I guess they're only fooling you," I said.
"No, they mean it. I have heard them talking it over."
"He can not marry you."
"Why?"
It seemed to me that the time had come for me to speak out, and with burning cheeks I said: