For the first time in her life Nanny felt queer in the company of a
man, queer and puzzled and almost uncomfortable. She was not a flirt
and her remark was commonplace and trivial. Yet this new chap was
taking it seriously and making her feel insincere and trifling. She
told herself that she was not going to like him and kept her eyes
studiously on the road and wayside flowers.
They mounted the front steps in silence but before he opened the door
to let her pass in he paused and waited for her to raise her eyes to
his. She did it much against her will. He spoke then as if they two
were all alone in the world together.
"It is true that you have not known me long. But I have known you for
some time. I saw you leave Green Valley one summer night last year and
I came from the West two months before I should have just to see if you
got safely back at lilac time."
At that Nanny's eyes lost all their careful pride and he saw them
lovely with surprise. So he explained.
"I was standing on the back platform of the Los Angeles Limited the
night you went East with your father."
Then a smile that the Lord gives only now and then, to a man that He is
sure He can trust, flitted over the tall boy's face as he added:
"And the very first evening I came back to Green Valley I held you in
my arms--rescued you.
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