“I—I—guess I better be going,” he said.
“You sha'n't go till I get back, anyway,” said 'Manda Grier hospitably. “You keep him, S'tira!”
She gave Statira a little push, and ran down the stairs.
Statira tottered against Lemuel, with that round, soft shoulder which had touched him before. He put out his arms to save her from falling, and they seemed to close round her of themselves. She threw up her face, and in a moment he had kissed her. He released her and fell back from her aghast.
She looked at him.
“I—I didn't mean to,” he panted. His heart was thundering in his ears.
She put up her hands to her face, and began to cry.
“Oh, my goodness!” he gasped. He wavered a moment, then he ran out of the room.
On the stairs he met 'Manda Grier coming up. “Now, Mr. Barker, you're real mean to go!” she pouted.
“I guess I better be going,” Lemuel called back, in a voice so husky that he hardly knew it for his own.