steward or agent to represent them。 But they were getting on； and
perhaps it was better for their reputation with their neighbors
that they had not been BEHOLDEN to the 〃No'th。〃 Seeing a cloud
pass over Courtland's face； the young lady added with an affected
sigh； and the first touch of feminine coquetry which had invaded
their wholesome camaraderie：
〃Yo' ought to have found us out BEFORE； co'nnle。〃
For an impulsive moment Courtland felt like telling her then and
there the story of his romantic quest； but the reflection that they
were standing on a narrow ledge with no room for the emotions； and
that Miss Sally had just put a nail in her mouth and a start might
be dangerous； checked him。 To this may be added a new jealousy of
her previous experiences； which he had not felt before。
Nevertheless； he managed to say with some effusion：
〃But I hope we are not too late NOW。 I think my principals are
quite ready and able to buy up any English or French investor now
or to come。〃
〃Yo' might try yo' hand on that one；〃 said Miss Sally； pointing to
a young fellow who had just emerged from the office and was
crossing the courtyard。 〃He's the English agent。〃
He was square…shouldered and round…headed； fresh and clean looking
in his white flannels； but with an air of being utterly distinct
and alien to everything around him； and mentally and morally
irreconcilable to it。 As he passed the house he glanced shyly at
it； his eye brightened and his manner became self…conscious as he
caught sight of the young girl； but changed again when he saw her
companion。 Courtland likewise was conscious of a certain
uneasiness； it was one thing to be helping Miss Sally ALONE； but
certainly another thing to be doing so under the eye of a stranger；
and I am afraid that he met the stony observation of the Englishman
with an equally cold stare。 Miss Sally alone retained her languid
ease and self…possession。 She called out； 〃Wait a moment； Mr。
Champney；〃 slipped lightly down the ladder； and leaning against it
with one foot on its lowest rung awaited his approach。
〃I reckoned yo' might be passing by；〃 she said； as he came forward。
〃Co'nnle Courtland；〃 with an explanatory wave of the hammer towards
her companion； who remained erect and slightly stiffened on the
cornice； 〃is no relation to those figures along the frieze of the
Redlands Court House； but a No'th'n officer； a friend of Major
Reed's； who's come down here to look after So'th'n property for
some No'th'n capitalists。 Mr。 Champney；〃 she continued； turning
and lifting her eyes to Courtland as she indicated Champney with
her hammer； 〃when he isn't talking English； seeing English；
thinking English； dressing English； and wondering why God didn't
make everything English； is trying to do the same for HIS folks。
Mr。 Champney； Co'nnle Courtland。 Co'nnle Courtland； Mr。 Champney！〃
The two men bowed formally。 〃And now； Co'nnle； if yo'll come down；
Mr。 Champney will show yo' round the fahm。 When yo' 've got
through yo'll find me here at work。〃
Courtland would have preferred； and half looked for her company
and commentary on this round of inspection； but he concealed his
disappointment and descended。 It did not exactly please him that
Champney seemed relieved； and appeared to accept him as a bona fide
stranger who could not possibly interfere with any confidential
relations that he might have with Miss Sally。 Nevertheless； he met
the Englishman's offer to accompany him with polite gratitude； and
they left the house together。
In less than an hour they returned。 It had not even taken that
time for Courtland to discover that the real improvements and the
new methods had originated with Miss Sally； that she was virtually
the controlling influence there； and that she was probably retarded
rather than assisted by the old…fashioned and traditional
conservatism of the company of which Champney was steward。 It was
equally plain； however； that the young fellow was dimly conscious
of this； and was frankly communicative about it。
〃You see； over there they work things in a different way； and； by
Jove！ they can't understand that there is any other； don't you
know？ They're always wigging me as if I could help it； although
I've tried to explain the nigger business； and all that； don't you
know？ They want Miss Dows to refer her plans to me； and expect me
to report on them； and then they'll submit them to the Board and
wait for its decision。 Fancy Miss Dows doing that！ But； by Jove！
they can't conceive of her AT ALL over there； don't you know？〃
〃Which Miss Dows do you mean？〃 asked Courtland dryly。
〃Miss Sally； of course；〃 said the young fellow briskly。 〃SHE
manages everythingher aunt included。 She can make those niggers
work when no one else can； a word or smile from her is enough。 She
can make terms with dealers and contractorsher own terms； too
when they won't look at MY figures。 By Jove！ she even gets points
out of those traveling agents and inventors； don't you know； who
come along the road with patents and samples。 She got one of those
lightning…rod and wire…fence men to show her how to put up an arbor
for her trailing roses。 Why； when I first saw YOU up on the
cornice； I thought you were some other chap that she'd askeddon't
you knowthat is； at first； of course！you know what I meanha；
by Jove！before we were introduced； don't you know。〃
〃I think I OFFERED to help Miss Dows；〃 said Courtland with a
quickness that he at once regretted。
〃So did HE； don't you know？ Miss Sally does not ASK anybody。
Don't you see？ a fellow don't like to stand by and see a young lady
like her doing such work。〃 Vaguely aware of some infelicity in his
speech； he awkwardly turned the subject： 〃I don't think I shall
stay here long； myself。〃
〃You expect to return to England？〃 asked Courtland。
〃Oh； no！ But I shall go out of the company's service and try my
own hand。 There's a good bit of land about three miles from here
that's in the market； and I think I could make something out of it。
A fellow ought to settle down and be his own master；〃 he answered
tentatively； 〃eh？〃
〃But how will Miss Dows be able to spare you？〃 asked Courtland；
uneasily conscious that he was assuming an indifference。
〃Oh； I'm not much use to her； don't you knowat least not HERE。
But I might； if I had my own land and if we were neighbors。 I told
you SHE runs the place； no matter who's here； or whose money is
invested。〃
〃I presume you are speaking now of young Miss Dows？〃 said Courtland
dryly。
〃Miss Sallyof coursealways；〃 said Champney simply。 〃She runs
the shop。〃
〃Were there not some French investorsrelations of Miss Dows？
Does anybody represent THEM？〃 asked Courtland pointedly。
Yet he was not quite prepared for the naive change in his
companion's face。 〃No。 There was a sort of French cousin who used
to be a good deal to the fore； don't you know？ But I rather fancy
he didn't come here to look after the PROPERTY；〃 returned Champney
with a quick laugh。 〃I think the aunt must have written to his
friends； for they 'called him off；' and I don't think Miss Sally
broke her heart about him。 She's not that sort of girleh？ She
could have her pick of the State if she went in for that sort of
thingeh？〃
Although this was exactly what Courtland was thinking； it pleased
him to answer in a distrait sort of fashion； 〃Certainly； I should
think so；〃 and to relapse into an apparently business abstraction。
〃I think I won't go in；〃 continued Champney as they neared the
house again。 〃I suppose you'll have something more to say to Miss
Dows。 If there's anything else you want of ME； come to the office。
But SHE'LL know。 Andererif you'reerstaying long in this
part of the country； ride over and look me up； don't you know？ and
have a smoke and a julep； I have a boy who knows how to mix them；
and I've some old brandy sent me from the other side。 Good…by。〃
More awkward in his kindliness than in his simple business
confidences； but apparently equally honest in both； he shook
Courtland's hand and walked away。 Courtland turned towards the
house。 He had seen the farm and its improvements； he had found
some of his own ideas practically discounted； clearly there was
nothing left for him to do but to thank his hostess and take his
leave。 But he felt far more uneasy than when he had arrived； and
there was a singular sense of incompleteness in his visit that he
could not entirely account for。 His conversation with Champney had
complicatedhe knew not whyhis previous theories of Miss Dows；
and although he was half conscious that this had nothing to do with
the business that brought him there； he tried to think that it had。
If Miss Sally was reallyaadistracting element to contiguous
man； it was certainly something to be considered in a matter of
business of which she would take a managerial part。 It was true
that Champney had said she was 〃not that sort of girl；〃 but this
was the testimony of one who was clearly under her influence。 He
entered the house through the open French window。 The parlor was
deserted。 He walked through the front hall and porch； no one was
there。 He lingered a few moments； a slight chagrin beginning to
mingle with his uneasiness。 She might have been on the lookout for
him。 She or Sophy must have seen him returning。 He would ring for
Sophy； and leave his thanks and regrets for her mistress。 He
looked for a bell； touched it； but on being confronted with Sophy；
changed his mind and asked to SEE Miss Dows。 In the interval
between her departure and the appearance of Miss Sally he resolved
to do the very thing which he had dismissed from his thoughts but
an hour before as ill…timed and doubtful。 He had the photograph
and letter in his pocket； he would make them his excuse for
personally taking leave of her。
She entered with her fair eyebrows lifted in a pretty surprise。
〃I declare to goodness； I thought yo' 'd ridden over to the red
barn and gone home from there。 I got through my work on the vines
earlier than I thought。 One of Judge Garret's nephews dropped in
in time to help me with the last row。 Yo' needn't have troubled
yo'self to send up for me for mere com