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"Well" and Dorian laughed softly to himself at the apparent egotism of the proposition "I must be greater than either of them. I must know all they know, and more; and that is possible, for I have the 'Key of Knowledge' which even the most learned scholar cannot get without obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel." Carlia silently worshiped.
He led the way, and the rest of the children followed. "I suppose the party's about over, anyway," suggested he. "I I guess so." They walked on in silence for a time; then Carlia said: "I guess I'm heavy." "Not at all", lied the young man bravely, for she was heavier than he had supposed; but she made no offer to walk.
She made an effort to stare him out of countenance, but it ended in lowered head and eyes. "Carlia! No, of course, it isn't. Excuse me for asking." There was another period of silence wherein Dorian again wondered at the girl's strange behavior. Was he annoying her? Perhaps she did not care to have him paying his crude attentions to her; and yet "Tell me about your dry farm," she said.
These arrived during the dusk of the evening, all but Carlia. They lingered on the cool lawn under the colored glow of the Chinese lanterns. Mrs. Trent realized that it would be useless to make the party a surprise, for she had to have Dorian's help in hanging out the lanterns, and he would necessarily see the unusual activity in front room and kitchen.
All the evening at home and during their walk back he was unusually silent, and Carlia could only look at him with questioning anxiety. Spring, once started, came on with a rush. The melting snow filled the river with a muddy flood; the grass greened the slopes; the bursting willows perfumed the air; the swamp awakened to the warm touch of the sun. Dorian's busy season also began.
She swung her straw hat by the string. Her brown-black hair was crowned by an unusually large bow of red ribbon. She was not the least discomposed by the teasing of the other children, neither by Dorian's presence. This was her party, and why should not she do and say what she pleased. Carlia now led the way along the canal bank until she came to where a pole spanned the stream.
"Yes; it's Carlia's birthday; we're just taking a walk by the canal to see the water; my, but it's nice!" "What, the party or the water?" "Why, the water." "Both" added another. "We've all told who we're going to marry," remarked a little rosy-faced miss, "all but Carlia, an' she won't tell." "Well, but perhaps Carlia don't know. You wouldn't have her tell a fib, would you?"
The Duke house, though clean and roomy, lacked the dainty home touches which mean so much. There were no porch, no lawn, no trees. The home was bare inside and out. In deference to the "company" Carlia was permitted to "visit" with her friend that afternoon. Apparently, these two girls had very little in common, but when left to themselves they found many mutual interests.
This was usually the end of the conversation for Carlia; she became silent unless he changed the subject. Dorian, naturally undemonstrative, was now more careful than ever in his love making. The intimacy between them never quite returned to the earlier state.
That winter he could be seen coming quite openly to the Duke home, and when the weather would permit, Carlia would be riding with him in his automobile. The neighbors talked, but the father could only shake his head and explain that Carlia was a willful girl. Now when it seemed that Carlia was to be won by this very gallant stranger, Dorian began to realize what a loss she would be to him.
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