"Do you mean to say that you object to my taking a stroll through your
meadows?" he asked.
"Why on earth do you want to stroll over here when you've got two
thousand acres on every other blessed side of you?"
When the other's reply came there was a curious hesitation about it.
"Well, a man has his fancies, you know. I've taken a liking to this path
through the willows."
"All the same I warn you that if you keep it up, you'll very likely run
into trouble. If Archie sets the dogs on you, I'll be obliged to stand
by him."
Without waiting for a response, he put his hand on the boy's shoulder,
and pushed him over the brook into the path on the opposite side. To his
surprise Blossom, dressed as though for church, appeared there at the
instant.
"Why, where in thunder are you going?" he demanded, releasing Archie,
who staggered back at the sudden withdrawal of the powerful grasp. He
had always known that his niece was a handsome girl, but the bloom, the
softness of her beauty came to him while he stood there, as vividly as
if for the first time.
"I--I--have you seen grandma's cat?" she returned after the breathless
suspense of a minute.
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