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got up； or handled his knife and fork； or left the room or entered it； that some of her early teachings had led her astray； and that there might be something else in life worth having outside of the four cardinal virtueseconomy； industry； pluck； and plain…speaking。 And if there wereand she was quite certain of it nowwould Oliver find them at Brookfield Farm？ This was really the basis of her disquietude； the kernel of the nut which she was trying to crack。
If any of these shortcomings on the part of his entertainers had been apparent to Oliver； or if he had ever drawn any such deductions； or noted any such contrasts； judged by the Kennedy Square code； no word of disappointment had passed his lips。
Some things； it is true； during his visit at the farm； had deeply impressed him； but they were not those that Margaret feared。 He had thought of them that first night when going over the events of the day as they passed in review before him。 One personality and one incident had made so profound an impression upon him that he could not get to sleep for an hour thinking about them。 It was the stalwart figure of John Grant in his broad…brimmed straw hat and heavy boots striding up the garden…path with his scythe over his shoulder。 This apparition； try as he might； would not down at his bidding。
〃Think of that young fellow；〃 he kept repeating to himself。 〃The eldest son and heir to the estate no doubt； a college…bred man and a most charming gentleman； working like a common laborer in his father's field。 And proud of it； tooand would do it again and talk about it。 And yet I was so ashamed of working with my hands that I had to run away from home for fear the boys would laugh at me。
Margaret heard the whole story from Oliver's lips the next morning with many adornments； and with any amount of good resolutions for the future。 She listened quietly and held his hand the closer； her eyes dancing in triumph； the color mounting to her cheeks； but she made no reply。
Neither did she return the confidence and tell Oliver how she wished her father could see some things in as clear a light； and be more gentle and less opinionated。 She was too proud for that。
And so the days； crowded thick with emotions； sped on。
The evening of their first one came and passed； with its half…hours when neither spoke a word and when both trembled all over for the very joy of living； and the morning of the second arrived； bringing with it a happiness she had never known before； and then the morning of the thirdand the last day。
They had kept their secret even from John。 Oliver wanted to inform her father at once of his attachment； telling her it was not right for him to accept the hospitality of her parents unless they understood the whole situation； but she begged him to wait； and he had yielded to her wishes。
They had all discussed him at their pleasure。
〃Nice chap that young Horn；〃 John had said to her the night before。 〃We had three or four of 'em in my class； one from Georgia and two from Alabama。 They'd fight in a minute； but they'd make up just as quick。 This one's the best of the lot。〃 He spoke as if they had all belonged to another race denizens of Borneo or Madagascar or the islands of the Pacific。
〃I have sent my love to his mother； my dear；〃 Mrs。 Grant had confided to her early that same morning。 〃I am sure he has a good mother。 He is so kind and polite to me； he never lets me remember that I am deaf when I talk to him；〃 and she looked about her in her simple； patient way。
〃Yesperhaps so；〃 said Silas； sitting hunched up in his chair。 〃Seems sort of skippy…like to me。 Something of a Dandy Jim； I should say。 Good enough to make men painters of； I guess。〃 Artists in those days had few friends North or South。
None of these criticisms affected Margaret。 She didn't care what they thought of him。 She knew his heart； and so would they in time。
When Oliver had said all his public good…byes to the rest of the familythe good…byes with which we have nothing to do had been given and taken in the studio with the curtains drawnhe joined Margaret at the gate。
They were standing in the road now； under the giant elm； waiting for the stage。 She stood close beside him； touching his arm with her own； mournfully counting the minutes before the stage would come； her eyes up the road。 All the light and loveliness of the summers all the joy and gladness of life； would go out of her heart when the door of the lumbering vehicle closed on Oliver。
CHAPTER XVII
LIVE COALS FROM MISS CLENDENNING'S WOOD…FIRE
His good…byes said； one absorbing thought now filled Oliver's mindto reach Kennedy Square on the wings of the wind and there to pour into the ears of his mother and Miss Lavinia； and of anyone else who would listen； the whys and wherefores of his love for Margaret； with such additional description of her personal charms； qualities； and talents as would bring about； in the shortest possible time； the most amicable of relations between Kennedy Square and Brookfield Farm。 He was determined that his mother should know her at once。 He knew how strong her prejudices were and what her traditions would cause her to think of a woman who led the life that Margaret did； but these things did not deter him。 A new love now filled his heartanother and a different kind of love from the one he bore his mother。 One that belonged to him； one that was his own and affected his life and soul and career。 He was prepared to fight even harder for this desire of his soul than for his art。
There being no air…ships available for immediate charter； nor big balloons waiting for passengers； with sand…bags ready for instant unloading； nor any underground pneumatic tubes into which he could be pumped and with a puff landed on his own doorstep in Kennedy Square； the impatient lover was obliged to content himself with the back seat of the country stage and a night ride in the train down the valley。
Then came a delay of a week in New York waiting for the return of Mr。 Slade to the city〃whom you must by all means see before coming home；〃 so his mother's letter ran。 This delay was made bearable by Waller； Bowdoin； and old Professor Cummings who went into spasms of delight over the boys' sketches。 Waller especially predicted a sure future for him if he would have the grit to throw overboard every other thing he was doing and 〃stick it out and starve it out〃 until he pulled through and became famous。
Mr。 Slade； while welcoming him with both hands； was not so cheering。 The financial and political situations were no better； he said。 They had really become more alarming every day。 The repudiation of Northern accounts by Southern merchants had ceasedat least some of Morton； Slade & Co。's customers had redeemed their obligations and had forwarded them their overdue remittances； tiding them over for a timebut no one could say what was in store for any firm whose business lay largely in the Southern States。 He would； however； make his word good。 Oliver's situation was still open； and he could again occupy his desk as soon as he returned from Kennedy Square。 The length of his service depended entirely on whether the country would go to war or