at all to this extraordinary uncle, could
care for him and welcome him without
embarrassment, while, with every doubtful
glance in his direction, she felt, still,
as if she did not quite know whether she
was on her head or her heels.

She crept, for reassurance, very close
to the mountain woman, the typical June
woman, with the normal rose in her cheeks,
and the golden buttercup for a heart, as
she picnicked, subdued, by the trail fire.

"I don't think--oh! I don't believe
I ever met anybody q-quite like you before.
But I'm so glad you're in the
world!" she murmured gratefully.

"And I just wish you could come into
?my world often, girlie," was the cuddling
answer, "for it's lonely as old Sarum
here on the mountainside--though where
old Sarum is I don't know myself!"
breezily.

"Nor I!" laughed Una.

"Old Man Greylock doesn't talk to
one, you know--only roars sometimes."

[[291]]

p290 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p291w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p292

v?