She
crossed it slowly, holding up her skirts where there was a wet gleam
through darker grass, and getting a little nosegay of violets with a
busy air, as if that were what she had come for. She passed through
the other bars into the second field, and Barney was only a little
way from her. He did not glance at her then. He was ploughing with
the look that Cadmus might have worn preparing the ground for the
dragon's teeth.
Rose held up her skirts, and went along the furrows behind him.
"Hullo, Barney," she said, in a trembling voice.
"Hullo," he returned, without looking around, and he kept on, with
Rose following.
"Barney," said she, timidly.
"Well?" said Barney, half turning, with a slight show of courtesy.
"Do you know if Rebecca is at home?"
"I don't know whether she is or not."
Barney held stubbornly to his rocking plough, and Rose followed.
"Barney," said she, again.
"Well?"
"Stop a minute, and look round here."
"I can't stop to talk."
"Yes, you can; just a minute. Look round here."
Barney stopped, and turned a stern, miserable face over his shoulder.
"I've been up to Charlotte's," Rose said.
"I don't know what that is to me."
"Barney Thayer, ain't you ashamed of yourself?"
"I can't stop to talk."
"Yes, you can. Look here. Charlotte feels awfully."
Barney stood with his back to Rose; his very shoulders had a dogged
look.
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