'Gyda is quite right,' said Dane turning again to Wych Hazel. 'They are little better than heathen, and do not know much more. You remember our first visit here? A party of the children had made a plan to throw stones at our horses as we passed through the Hollow on our return. There is no danger of that now. But what would you do with such a community?'
'I could not do much,' said the girl gravely. 'I suppose, if I were youYou should ask people who know what they are talking about, Mr. Rollo. Not me.'
'But I ask you. What occurs to you, as a good first step?'
'It did not "occur" to me,' said Hazel,'you made me think of it. I suppose, thenif I knew what you know, Mr. Rollo; if I felt as you feel; I should want to tell them that, first of all. I should set them the lesson you set me,' she added, her voice changing a little. 'Andvery much as you set it for me.' A swift deprecating glance begged him not to think that she was either criticising his work, or assuming that she knew what it was; or in general, that she knew anything about anything!
'And when and where would you do this?' said Dane, his manner quite grave and quiet, his powerful eyes nevertheless absorbing every indication of the changes in hers.
'I should think they would come any time when you wanted them,' she said, making revelations in her unconscious way.'Sundays, I suppose they would have most time. And Sundays, too, they would be a little more dressed up and ready for the best things you could tell them.'The words came simply, but very soberly, as if she remembered all the while that in such plans she had nothing to do.
'Well,' said Dane, 'our thoughts lie sufficiently near together. That is just what I have proposed to do, Wych.'
'Yes. I knew you would.'
'Do you think,' said he slowly, as he was helping her to something, 'do you think one ought to wait for anything but an opportunity before telling good news to people whom it concerns?'
'But I did not think you had waited.'