Far in the Forest (Volume 7); A Story (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1898. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. Two or three days passed, during which Riverius sought in vain for a chance to talk with Vickers. Then he went away down the river to Pittsburg, and was gone two weeks. He reappeared at supper one evening, and after it went over to his cabin, and, coming back, put an envelope on the table. "You will find within the account for my board, Mrs. Preston." "Thank you," she said. This monthly bit of business unaccountably annoyed her. She put the envelope in her pocket, adding, " You are a very easy boarder." "Am I, indeed? I eat like a cormorant. I come, I go. You must be very tired of so erratic a guest, and you put my account in your pocket without a look at it. It is hardly business-like. These woodmen all cheat you about your pines." Riverius had a faint sense of mischievous pleasure in dwelling on their mutual commercial relations. "This is not business at all," Bessy returned, quite earnestly. "You pay me by the month and are here one week out of three." "So much the worse for me. How quiet the time is Will you walk with me a little in the woods?" It was the first time he had made any such request, but of late he had acquired the habit of sitting with her after meals while he smoked, and now and then he had picked up a book and read aloud, --usually after Paul had gone to bed. "I shall be glad to go, if you will not discuss money matters. I hate them," she answered; and they strolled away, leaving Paul deep in a volume of travel. They walked on in silence for a while, following in the twilight a disused ox-road. "How wordless we are " he said. "Yes. There may be many reasons for that. One may have nothing to say." "Or too much." As he spoke she glanced at him curiously. "That is not my case, at least," she returned. "I am undergoing mental desiccati...