authority.

"You needn't distress yourself, Tom. I don't know that I shall
go there again," said Betty indifferently.

"I wouldn't if I were you." He was charmed to find her so
reasonable. "You know it isn't the thing for a young girl to
call on a man, you'll get yourself talked about in a way you
won't like--take my word for it! If you want to be kind and
neighborly send one of the boys over to ask how he is--or bake a
cake with your own hands, but you keep away. That's the idea!
--send him something to eat, something you've made yourself,
he'll appreciate that."

"I'm afraid he couldn't eat it if I did, Tom. It's plain you
have no acquaintance with my cooking," said Betty, laughing.

"Did Norton say if he had any idea as to the identity of the men
who robbed him?" inquired Tom casually.

"Their object wasn't robbery," said Betty.

"No?" Ware's glance was uneasy.

"It seems that some one objects to his coming here, Tom--here to
Belle Plain to see me, I suppose," added Betty. The planter
moved uncomfortably in his seat, refusing to meet her eyes.

"He shouldn't put out a yarn like that, Bet. It isn't just the
thing for a gentleman to do--"