VALLEY

TIT FOR TAT 171Norman Douglas himself was sitting,reading a newspaper.His big dog was beside him. Behind,in thekitchen, where his housekeeper, Mrs. Wilson, was gettingsupper, there was a clatter of dishes an angryclatter,for Norman Douglas had just had a quarrelwith Mrs. Wilson, and both were in a very bad temperover it.Consequently, when Faith stepped on theveranda and Norman Douglas lowered his newspapershe found herself looking into the choleric eyes of anirritated man.Norman Douglas was rather a fine looking personagein his way. He had a sweep of long red beardover his broad chest and a mane of red hair, ungrizzledby the years, on his massive head. His high, whiteforehead was unwrinkled and his blue eyes could flashstill with all the fire of his tempestuous youth. Hecould be very amiable when he liked,and he could bevery terrible. Poor Faith, so anxiously bent on retrievingthe situation in regard to the church, hadcaught him in one of his terrible moods.He did not know who she was and he gazed at herwith disfavour. Norman Douglas liked girls of spiritand flame and laughter. At this moment Faith wasvery pale. She was of the type to which colour meanseverything. Lacking her crimson cheeks she seemedmeek and even insignificant. She looked apologeticand afraid, and the bully in Norman Douglas' heartstirred."Who the dickens are you?And what do you want