INS AND OUTS OF THE MATTER 339 



"He isn't ter hum just now," replied Amos, in 

 tones that were unnecessarily feeble, while at the same 

 time an idea entered his brain that almost made him 

 chuckle; but the sound which was quenched in his 

 throat only came to Maria as an uncomfortable struggle 

 for breath that hastened her exit to the woodpile by 

 the side fence for the material to revive the fire. In 

 going round the house, her arms laden with logs, she 

 bumped into the figure of The Man leading his bicycle 

 across the grass, which deadened his footfall, as the 

 lantern she carried blinded her to all objects not within 

 its direct rays. 



"Maria Maxwell! Is Opie ill again? You must 

 not carry such a heavy load !" he exclaimed all in one 

 breath, as he very quickly transferred the logs to his 

 own arms, and was making the fire in the open stove 

 almost before she had regained the porch, so that 

 when she had lighted a lamp and drawn the turkey- 

 red curtains, the reflections of the flames began to 

 dance on the wall and cheerfulness suddenly replaced 

 gloom. 



Still Amos sat in an attitude of dejection. Thank- 

 ing The Man for his aid, but taking no further notice 

 of him, Maria began to heat the broth which was con- 

 tained in the pitcher, asking Amos at the same time 



