The young teacher, after standing a few moments in the
doorway, watching her charges down the road and out of sight in the
timber across the valley, turned wearily back, and seating herself at
a rude desk in the rear of the room, began her task of looking over
the copybooks left by the rollicking youngsters. Had she remained a
moment longer in the door-way she would have seen a tall, well-dressed
gentleman coming leisurely up the hill. It was Dick. He had been roaming
all the afternoon over the fields and through the brown woods.
He came slowly up the road, and crossing the yard, stood hesitating
at the threshold of the building. The teacher, bending low, did not
see him for a moment; but when she raised her head, she looked straight
into his eyes.
Dick would have been dull indeed had he failed to interpret that look;
and Amy would have been more than dull had she failed to see the love
that shone in his glance of astonishment and pleasure.
For an instant, neither spoke; then, "I have found you again," said
Dick, simply. "I hope you will forgive me, Miss Goodrich; I assure you
the meeting is entirely by accident. I stopped for a drink of water."
"Please help yourself, Mr. Falkner," said the girl, with a little choke
in her voice. "There it is." And she pointed to a wooden pail and tin
dipper near the door.
"I am spending my vacation in the Ozarks; or rather, I came here to
rest." He paused awkwardly. "I--I did not dream of your being here,
or of course I should not have come, after your letter.
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