The furrows upon her cheeks were no longer mere disfigurements; they
raised her from the ordinary level of the ignorant and the ugly into some
bond of sympathy with his dead mother.
"My dear Mrs. Hicks," he stammered, abashed and reddening. "Why, I shall
take a positive pleasure in driving the stage, I assure you."
He crossed to the mirror and carefully brushed a stray lock of hair into
place; then he took up his hat and gloves and turned toward the door. "I
think it is waiting for me now," he added lightly; "a pleasant evening to
you."
But she stood straight before him and as he met her eyes his affected
jauntiness dropped from him. With a boyish awkwardness he took her hand and
held it for an instant as he looked at her. "My dear madam, you are a good
woman," he said, and went whistling down to take the stage.
Upon the porch he found Jack Hicks seated between a stout gentleman and a
thin lady, who were to be the passengers to Hopeville; and as Dan appeared
the innkeeper started to his feet and swung open the door of the coach for
the thin lady to pass inside. "You'll find it a pleasant ride, mum," he
heartily assured her. "I've often taken it myself an', rain or shine,
thar's not a prettier road in all Virginny," then he moved humbly back as
Dan, carelessly drawing on his gloves, came down the steps. "I hope we
haven't hurried you, suh," he stammered.
"Not a bit--not a bit," returned Dan, affably, slipping on his overcoat,
which Big Abel had run up to hold for him.
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