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 for walking. She descended to the first floor expecting to meet her father and another storm but he was absent. Glad of the respite from further scenes she passed to the veranda and down the steps to the drive and started toward the road. She had just reached the gate and turned toward the woods a half mile away where her brook tossed its waters over the falls when she looked up to see young John Marley approaching, hat in hand.

"Howdy, Lida.—I s'pose I should call you Miss Lida but you've always been Lida to me."

The girl paused in the middle of the white sanded road, wonder in her eyes that she should be meeting anyone so suddenly at this time in the day, a sun bonnet swinging in her hand. She resented the tone in which she was addressed; she resented also his appearing at such an inopportune time.

"I thought you were working," was her comment.

"I thought I'd pay you a call," Marley explained.

"Without being asked?" Lida queried.

"Neighbors don't usually have to ask, about here do they?"

"If they call in the heat of the day. Besides, I'm in no mood for company today, Mr. Marley." Lida started to walk on.

"Mr. Marley now, is it?" he asked. "It used to be John and Lida. I wish it could be so still."

"The wish is not mutual. Besides if you'd respect a lady's wishes and want to know what those wishes are it is to be alone."