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“I’ll show you a secret, if you care to see it.”

Nothing would please her more.

He glanced hurriedly around, took a key from his pocket, and unlocked the padlock that secured the closet she had noticed. Then, reaching within, with infinite care he brought out a small mechanical model.

“There’s an invention of my own. A reaper and thresher combined. I’m going to have it patented and have a big one made from this model. This will work, as you see.”

He then explained to her with great precision how as it moved over the field the double operation was performed by the same motive power. That it would be a saving of a certain amount of labor and time which she could not remember. She did not understand a word of his explanations; she saw only a clean and pretty but complicated toy that under the manipulation of his grimy fingers rattled a number of frail-like staves and worked a number of wheels and drums, yet there was no indication of her ignorance in her sparkling eyes and smiling, breathless attitude. Perhaps she was interested in his own absorption; the revelation of his preoccupation with this model struck her as if he had made her a confidante of some boyish passion for one of her own sex, and she regarded him with the same sympathizing superiority.

“You will make a fortune out of it,” she said pleasantly.

Well, he might make enough to be able to go on with some other inventions he had in his mind. They cost money and time, no matter how careful one was.

This was another interesting revelation to the young girl. He not only did not seem to care for the profit his devotion brought him, but even his one beloved ideal might be displaced by another. So like a man, after all!

Her reflections were broken upon by the sound of voices. The young man carefully replaced the model in its closet with a parting glance as if he was closing a shrine, and said, “There comes the wagon.” The young girl turned to face the men who were dragging it from the road, with the half-complacent air of having been victorious over their late rude abandonment, but they did not seem to notice it or to be surprised at her companion, who quickly stepped forward and examined the broken vehicle with workmanlike deliberation.

“I hope you will be able to do something with it,” she said sweetly, appealing directly to him. “I should thank you SO MUCH.”

He did not reply. Presently he looked up to the man who had brought her to the shanty, and said, “The axle’s strained, but it’s safe for five or six miles more of this road. I’ll put the wheel on easily.” He paused, and without glancing at her, continued, “You might send her on by the cart.”

“Pray don’t trouble yourselves,” interrupted the young girl, with a pink uprising in her cheeks; “I shall be quite satisfied with the buggy as it stands. Send her on in the cart, indeed! Really, they were a rude set–ALL of them.”

Without taking the slightest notice of her remark, the man replied gravely to the young mechanic, “Yes, but we’ll be wanting the cart before it can get back from taking her.”

“Her” again. “I assure you the buggy will serve perfectly well–if this–gentleman–will only be kind enough to put on the wheel again,” she returned hotly.

The young mechanic at once set to work. The young girl walked apart silently until the wheel was restored to its axle. But to her surprise a different horse was led forward to be harnessed.

“We thought your horse wasn’t safe in case of another accident,” said the first man, with the same smileless consideration. “This one wouldn’t cut up if he was harnessed to an earthquake or a worse driver than you’ve got.”

It occurred to her instantly that the more obvious remedy of sending another driver had been already discussed and rejected by them. Yet, when her own driver appeared a moment afterwards, she ascended to her seat with some dignity and a slight increase of color.