'You'll not come in that much,' she answered, surlily, measuring an
infinitesimal distance on her finger with her thumb, which she pinched
against it, the gesture ending with a snap of defiance, and a smile that
showed her fine teeth.

'I've a mind to shy a stone at you,' shouted Milly.

'Faire away; I'll shy wi' ye as long as ye like, lass; take heed o'
yerself;' and Beauty picked up a round stone as large as a cricket ball.

With difficulty I got Milly away without an exchange of missiles, and much
disgusted at my want of zeal and agility.

'Well, come along, cousin, I know an easy way by the river, when it's low,'
answered Milly. 'She's a brute--is not she?'

As we receded, we saw the girl slowly wending her way towards the old
thatched cottage, which showed its gable from the side of a little rugged
eminence embowered in spreading trees, and dangling and twirling from its
string on the end of her finger the key for which a battle had so nearly
been fought.

The stream was low enough to make our flank movement round the end of
the paling next it quite easy, and so we pursued our way, and Milly's
equanimity returned, and our ramble grew very pleasant again.

Our path lay by the river bank, and as we proceeded, the dwarf timber was
succeeded by grander trees, which crowded closer and taller, and, at last,
the scenery deepened into solemn forest, and a sudden sweep in the river