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e's a kindhearted； jolly fellow； in spite of the devil。〃
〃Or in spite of Mr。 Christopher；〃 added Tom； with a guffaw。
Frowning heavily； Christopher turned toward the door。
〃Oh； you ask Will Fletcher who is his best friend；〃 he said； 〃and let me hear his answer。〃
With an abrupt nod to Jacob； he went out of the tobacco barn and along the little path to the road。 He had barely reached the gate； however； when Jim Weatherby ran after him with the horseshoes； and offered eagerly to come over in the morning and see that the gray mare was properly shod。
〃I'm handy at that kind of thing； you know；〃 he explained； with a blush。
〃Well； if you don't mind； I wish you would come；〃 Christopher replied； 〃but to save my life I can't see why you are so ready with other people's jobs。〃
Then； taking the horseshoes； he opened the gate and started rapidly toward home。 His mind was still absorbed by old Jacob's news； and upon reaching the house he was about to pass up to his room； when Cynthia called him from the little platform beyond the back door； and going out； he found her standing pale and tearful on the kitchen threshold。 Looking beyond her； he saw that Lila and Tucker were in the room； and from the intense and resolute expression in the younger sister's face he judged that she was the central figure in what appeared to be a disturbing scene。
〃Christopher； you can't imagine what has happened；〃 Cynthia began in her beautiful； tragic voice。 〃Lila went to church yesterday with whom； do you suppose？〃
Christopher thought for a moment。
〃Not with Bill Fletcher？〃 he gave out at last。
〃Come； come； now； it's a long ways better than that； you'll admit； Cynthia；〃 broke in Tucker； with a peaceful intention。 〃I can't help reminding you； my dear； to be thankful that it wasn't so unlikely a person as Bill Fletcher。〃
With a decisive gesture such as he had never believed her capable of； Lila came up to Christopher and stood facing him with beaming eyes。 He had never before seen her so lovely； and he realised at the instant that it was this she had always needed to complete her beauty。 From something merely white and warm and delicate she had become suddenly as radiant as a flame。
〃I went with Jim Weatherby； Christopher；〃 she said slowly； 〃and I'm not ashamed of it。〃
The admission wrung a short groan from Cynthia； who stood twisting her gingham apron tightly about her fingers。
〃Oh； Lila； who was his grandfather？〃 she cried。 〃Well； there's this thing certain； she doesn't want to marry his grandfather；〃 put in Tucker； undaunted by the failure of his former attempts at peace…making。 〃Not that I have anything against the old chap； for that matter； he was an honest； well…behaved old body； and used to mend my boots for me up to the day of his death。 Jim gets his handy ways from him； I reckon。〃
Cynthia turned upon him angrily。
〃Uncle Tucker； you will drive me mad；〃 she exclaimed； the tears starting to her lashes。 〃It does seem to me that you； at least； might show some consideration for the family name。 It's all we've left。〃
〃And it's a good enough relic in its way；〃 returned Tucker amicably； 〃though if you are going to make a business of sacrificing yourself； for heaven's sake let it be for something bigger than a relic。 A live neighbour is a much better thing to make sacrifices for than a dead grandfather。〃
〃I don't care one bit what his grandfather was or whether he ever had any or not！〃 cried Lila； in an outburst of indignation； 〃and more than that； I don't care what mine was； either。 I am going to marry himI amI am！ Don't look at me like that； Cynthia。 Do you want to spoil my whole life？〃
Cynthia threw out her hands with a despairing grasp of the air； as if she were reaching for the broken remnants of the family pride。 〃To marry a Weatherby！〃 she gasped。 〃Oh； mother！ mother！ Lila； is it possible that you can be so selfish？〃 But Lila had won her freedom too dearly to surrender it to an appeal。
〃I want to be selfish；〃 she said stubbornly。 〃I have never been selfish in my life； and I want to see what it feels like。 Oh； you are cruel； all of you； and you will break my heart。〃
Christopher's face paled and grew stern。
〃We must all think of mother's wishes； Lila；〃 he said gravely。
For the first time the girl lost her high fortitude； and a babyish quiver shook her lips。 Her glance wavered and fell； and with a pathetic gesture she turned from Christopher to Cynthia and from Cynthia to Tucker。
〃Oh； you can't understand； Christopher！〃 she cried； 〃you have never been in love； nor has Cynthia。 None of you can understand but Uncle Tucker！〃
She ran to him sobbing； and he； steadying himself on a single crutch； folded his arm about her。
〃I understand； child； thank God；〃 he said softly。
CHAPTER II。 Between Christopher and Will
An hour later Christopher was at work in the stable； when he heard a careless whistle outside； and Will Fletcher looked in at the open door。
〃I say； Chris； take a turn off and come down to Tom Spade's；〃 he urged。
Christopher； who was descending from the loft with an armful of straw； paused midway of the ladder and regarded his visitor with perceptible hesitation。
〃I can't this evening；〃 he answered； 〃the light is almost gone； and I've a good deal to get through with after dark。 I'll manage better to…morrow； if I can。 By the way； why didn't you show up at Weatherby's？〃
Will came in and sat down on the edge of a big wooden box which contained the harness。 In the four years he had changed but little in appearance； though his slim figure had shot up rapidly in height。 His chestnut hair grew in high peaks from his temples and swept in a single lock above his small； sparkling eyes； which held an expression of intelligent animation。 On the whole； it was not an unpleasing face； despite the tremulous droop of the mouth； already darkened by the faint beginning of a brown mustache。
〃Oh； Molly Peterkin stopped me in the road；〃 he replied readily。 〃I'd caught her eye once or twice before； but this was the first chance we'd had to speak。 I tell you she's a peach； Christopher。〃
Christopher came down from the ladder and spread the straw evenly in the horses' stalls。
〃So they say；〃 he responded； 〃but I haven't much of an eye for women； you know。 Now； when it comes to judging a leaf of tobacco； I'm a match for any man。〃
〃Well； one can't be everything；〃 remarked Will consolingly。 He snatched at a piece of straw that had fallen on the lowest rung of the ladder and began idly chewing it。 〃As for me I know a blamed sight more about women than I do about tobacco；〃 he added； with a swagger。
Christopher glanced up； and at sight of the boyish figure burst into a hearty laugh。
〃Oh； you're a jolly old sport； I know； and to think that Tom Spade has been accusing me of leading you astray！ Why； you are already twice the man that I am。〃
〃Pshaw！ That's just grandpa's chatter！ The old man rails at me day and night about you until it's a mortal wonder he doesn't drive me to the dogs outright。 I'd like to see another fellow that would put up with it for a week。 Captain Morrison told him； you know； that I hadn't done a peg of study for a year； and it brought on a scene that almos