He saw that her nerves needed quieting, and he set about the task with such
simple tact as he possessed. His first step was to light his pipe in the most
nonchalant manner, and then he burst out laughing. "I'll hang that hickory up.
It has done too good service to be put to common use again. Probably you
never heard of a skimelton, Alida. Well, they are not so uncommon in this
region. I suppose I'll have to own up to taking part in one myself when I was
a young chap. They usually are only rough larks and are taken good-naturedly.
I'm not on jesting terms with my neighbors, and they had no business to come
here, but I wouldn't have made any row if they hadn't insulted you."

Her head bowed very low as she faltered, "They've heard everything."

He came right to her and took her hand. "Didn't I hear everything before they
did?"

"Yes."

"Well, Alida, I'm not only satisfied with you, but I'm very grateful to you.
Why shouldn't I be when you are a good Christian woman? I guess I'm the one
to be suited, not Oakville. I should be as reckless as the devil if you should
go away from me. Don't I act like a man who's ready to stand up for and
protect you?"

"Yes, too ready. It would kill me if anything happened to you on my account."

"Well, the worst would happen," he said firmly, "if we don't go right on as
we've begun. If we go quietly on about our own affairs, we'll soon be let
alone and that's all we ask."

"Yes, yes indeed! Don't worry, James. I'll do as you wish."