VALLEY

TWO STUBBORN PEOPLE 313Ellen could possibly be attracted to him. NormanDouglas was perfectly aware of her dislike and hechuckled over it. It never worried Norman if peopledid not like him. It did not even make him dislikethem in return, for he took it as a kind of extortedcompliment. He thought Rosemary a fine girl, andhe meant to be an excellent, generous brother-in-lawto her. But before he could be her brother-in-law hehad to have a talk with her, so, having seen her leavingIngleside as he stood in the doorway of a Glen store,he had straightway plunged into the valley to overtakeher.Rosemary was sitting pensively on the maple seatwhere John Meredith had been sitting on that eveningnearly a year ago. The tiny spring shimmered anddimpled under its fringe of ferns. Ruby-red gleamsof sunset fell through the arching boughs. A tallclump of perfect asters grewat her side. The littlespot was as dreamy and witching and evasive as anyretreat of fairies or dryads in ancient forests. Intoit Norman Douglas bounced, scattering and annihilatingits charm in a moment. His personality seemed toswallow the place up. There was simply nothing therebut Norman Douglas, big, red-bearded, complacent."Good evening," said Rosemary coldly, standing up."'Evening, girl. Sit down againsit down again.I want to have a talk with you. Bless the girl, what'sshe looking at me like that for? I don't want to eatyou I've had my supper. Sit down and be civil."