“She’sa-crying，“saidhe。
Iwithheldfromquestions，andashekeptalongbymysidehesaid：“I’msorry。Doyouthinkshe’smadwithLinforwhathe’stoldher？Shejustsat，andwhenshestartedcryinghemademegoaway。“
“Idon’tbelieveshe’smad，“ItoldBilly；andIsatdownonmyblanket，hebesideme，talkingwhilethemoongrewsmallasitroseovertheplain，andthelightsteadilyshoneinJessamine’swindow。SoonyoungBillyfellasleep，andIlookedathim，thinkinghowinawayitwashewhohadbroughtthistroubleonthemanwhohadsavedhimandlovedhim。
Butthatmanhadnosuchuntenderthoughts。Oncemorethedooropened，anditwashewhocamethistime，alonealso。Shedidnotfollowhimandstandtowatchhimfromthethreshold，thoughheforgottoclosethedoor，and，comingovertome，stoodlookingdown。
“What？“Isaidatlength。