she ought to forget, but don't. But," she continued, looking at him
curiously, "she allows she was mighty cut up by her cousin's manner to
yo'."

"I am afraid that Miss Reed was more annoyed than I was," said
Courtland. "I should be very sorry if she attached any importance to
it," he added earnestly.

"And YO' don't?" continued Miss Sally.

"No. Why should I?" She noticed, however, that he had slightly drawn
himself up a little more erect, and she smiled as he continued, "I dare
say I should feel as he does if I were in his place."

"But YO' wouldn't do anything underhanded," she said quietly. As he
glanced at her quickly she added dryly: "Don't trust too much to people
always acting in yo' fashion, co'nnle. And don't think too much nor too
little of what yo' hear here. Yo' 're just the kind of man to make a
good many silly enemies, and as many foolish friends. And I don't know
which will give yo' the most trouble. Only don't yo' underrate EITHER,
or hold yo' head so high, yo' don't see what's crawlin' around yo'.
That's why, in a copperhead swamp, a horse is bitten oftener than a
hog."

She smiled, yet with knitted brows and such a pretty affectation of
concern for her companion that he suddenly took heart.

"I wish I had ONE friend I could call my own," he said boldly, looking
straight into her eyes. "I'd care little for other friends, and fear no
enemies."