Maiden! yer don’t know him, dearie. Not as I knows him!”
“Likely ’nuff. You’re a bit clumsy at knowin’ anybody.”
“If you’re carin’ fur Lou———” Steve stopped, cutting his nails into the gate top.
“Well?”
“Maiden—if yer’d tell me! Oh, if yer’d only tell me! Maiden———”
Maiden yawned deliberately.
“Must be ’bout eleven, I should think,” she said. “We’ve bin out here an hour, haven’t we? Lou was goin’ to take me in to supper.”
“Maiden—if yer expectin’ Lou ter marry yer—he never will. He’ll like as not be clearin’ out any day at all.”
Maiden drew up her slim throat, and her words came iced:
“I don’t remember givin’ you the right ter be impertinent to me, Steve Derral,” she said.
“I ain’t askin’ no right. I’m jes’ warnin’ yer———”
“I’ve heard folks say as yer ain’t always clever wi’ the words you use. Insultin’ is more like it, I think.”
“He’ll insult yer worse ef you’re engaged ter him ’fore he goes. Maiden—yer got ter listen———”
“Lou! Lou! Come!”
A dark bulk by the steps moved suddenly. Then Lou’s voice was in Steve’s ear:
