reckon I’ll be back afore tomorrow night, so if you’re going home tomorrow, good-bye now.”

“I may go home tomorrow,” said Valancy, “but I’m not going back to Deerwood.”

“Not going — ”

“You’ll find the key on the woodshed nail,” interrupted Valancy, politely and unmistabably. “The dog will be in the barn and the cat in the cellar. Don’t forget to feed her till your cousin comes. The pantry is full and I made bread and pies today. Good-bye, Mr. Gay. You have been very kind to me and I appreciate it.”

“We’ve had a d — — d decent time of it together, and that’s a fact,” said Roaring Abel.