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〃Because she is one。〃
〃And you're a brute。 What does a man want with brains in a woman； anyway。 Maria had them and they didn't keep her from coming to shipwreck。〃
Christopher reached for the lantern。
〃Well； I've got to go now；〃 he broke in； 〃and you'd better be trotting home or you'll have the old man and the hounds out after you。〃
With the lantern swinging from his hand； he went to the door and waited for Will； then passing out； he turned the key in the lock； and with a short 〃Good…night！〃 started briskly toward the house。
Will followed him to the kitchen steps； and then keeping to the path that trailed across the yard； he passed through the whitewashed gate and went on along the sunken road which led by the abandoned ice…pond。 Here he turned into the avenue of chestnuts； and with the lighted windows of the Hall before him； walked slowly toward the impending interview with his grandfather。
As he entered the house； Miss Saidie looked out from the dining…room doorway and beckoned in a stealthy fashion with the hen…house key。
〃He has been hunting everywhere for you；〃 she whispered； 〃and I told him you'd gone for a little stroll along the road。〃
An expression of anger swept over Will's face； and he made a helpless gesture of revolt。
〃I won't stand it any longer；〃 he answered； with a spurt of resolution which was exhausted in the feeble speech。
Miss Saidie put up her hand and straightened his necktie with an affectionate pat。
〃Only for a little while； dear；〃 she urged； 〃he's in one of his black humours； and it will blow over； never fear。 Things are never so bad but there's hope of a mending some day。 Try to please him and go to work as he wants you to do。 It all came of the trouble at the universityhe had set his heart on your carrying off the honours。〃
〃It was his fault；〃 said Will stubbornly。 〃I begged him not to send me there。 It was his fault。〃
〃Well； that can't be helped now；〃 returned the little woman decisively。 〃All we can do is to make things as easy as we can； and if thar's ever to be any peace in this house again you must try to humour him。 I never saw him in such a state before； and I've known him for sixty years and slept in a trundle…bed with him as a baby。 The queerest thing about it； too； is that he seems to get closer and closer every day。 Just now thar was a big fuss because I hadn't sent all the fresh butter to market； and I thought he'd have a fit when he found I was saving some asparagus for dinner to…morrow。〃
〃Where is he now？〃 asked Will in a whisper。
〃Complaining over some bills in his setting…room； and he actually told me a while ago； when I went in； that he had been a fool to give Maria so much money for Wyndham to throw away。 Poor Maria！ I'm sure she has had a hard enough time without being abused for something she couldn't help。 But it really is a passion with him； thar's no use denying it。 He spends his whole time adding up the cost of what we eat。〃
Then； as the supper…bell rang in the hall； she finished hurriedly； and assuming a cheerful manner； took her place behind the silver service。
Fletcher entered with a heavy step； his eyes lowering beneath his bushy eyebrows。 The weight of his years appeared to have fallen upon him in a night； and he was no longer the hale； ruddy man of middle age； with his breezy speeches and his occasional touches of coarse humour。 The untidiness of his clothes was still marked…his coat； his cravat； his fing閞 nails； all showed the old lack of neatness。
〃Won't you say grace； Brother Bill？〃 asked Miss Saidie； as he paused abstractedly beside his chair。
Bending his head； he mumbled a few hurried words； and then cast a suspicious glance over the long table。
〃I told you to use the butter with onions in it；〃 he said； helping himself and tasting a little on the end of his knife。 〃This brings forty cents a pound in market； and I'll not have the waste。〃
〃Oh； Brother Bill； the other is so bad；〃 gasped Miss Saidie nervously。
〃It's good enough for you and me； I reckon。 We wan't brought up on any better； and what's good enough for us is good enough for my grandson。〃 Then he turned squarely upon Will。 〃So you're back； eh？ Whar did you go？〃 he demanded
Will tried to meet his eyes； failed； and stared gloomily at the white…and…red border of the tablecloth。
〃I went out for a breath of air；〃 he answered in a muffled voice。 〃It's been stifling all day。〃
〃You've got to get used to it； I reckon；〃 returned the old man with a brutal laugh。 〃I'll have no idlers and no fancy men about me。〃
An ugly smile distorted his coarse features； and； laying down his knife and fork； he sat watching his grandson with his small； bloodshot eyes。
CHAPTER VII。 The Toss of a Coin
A fortnight passed before Will came to Christopher's again； and then he stole over one evening in the shadow of the twilight。 Things were no better； he said； they were even worse than usual； the work in the tobacco field was simply what he couldn't stand； and his grandfather was growing more intolerable every day。 Besides this； the very dullness of the life was fast driving him to distraction。 He had smuggled a bottle of whisky from the town； and last night； after a hot quarrel with the old man； he had succeeded in drugging himself to sleep。 〃My nerves have gone all to pieces；〃 he finished irritably； 〃and it's nothing on earth but this everlasting bickering that has done it。 It's more than flesh and blood can be expected to put up with。〃
His hand shook a little when he lighted a cigarette； and his face； which was burned red from wind and sun； contracted nervously as he talked。 It was the wildness in his speech； however； the suppressed excitement which ran in an undercurrent beneath his words； that caused the other to turn sharply and regard him for a moment with gathered brows。
〃Well； take my advice and don't try that dodge too often；〃 remarked Christopher in a careless tone。
〃What in the deuce does it matter？〃 returned Will desperately。 〃It was the only quiet night I've had for three weeks： I slept like a log straight through until the breakfast…bell。 Then I was late； of course； and he threatened to take an hour's time from my day's wages。 By the way； he pays me now； you know； just as he does the other labourers。〃
For a time he kept up his rambling complaint； but； breaking off abruptly at last； made some trivial excuse； and started homeward across the fields。 Christopher； looking after him； was hardly surprised when he saw him branch off into the shaded lane that led to Sol Peterkin's。
There followed a month when the two met only at long intervals； and then with a curious constraint of manner。 Sometimes Christopher； stopping on his way to the pasture； would exchange a few words over the rail fence with Will； who lounged on the edge of his grandfather's tobacco crop； but the old intimacy had ceased suddenly to exist； and it was evident that a newer interest had distracted the boy's ardent fancy。
It was not until August that the meaning of the change was made clear to Christopher； when； coming one day to a short turn in a little woodland road upon his land； he saw Will and Molly Peterkin sitting side by side on a fallen log。 The girl had bee