Зима тревоги нашей

           Youmeantthat."

           Afearstruckme.Iwasshowingthrough.Icouldn’tletmyselfshowthrough."Ohsay,MissMousie,willyoumarryme?"

           AndMarysaid,"Oho!Oho!"

           MysuddenfearthatImightbeshowingthroughwasverygreat.Ihadmademyselfbelievethattheeyesarenotthemirrorofthesoul.SomeofthedeadliestlittlefemalecontraptionsIeversawhadthefacesandtheeyesofangels.Thereisabreedthatcanreadthroughskinandthroughbonerightintothecenter,buttheyarerare.Forthemostpartpeoplearenotcuriousexceptaboutthemselves.OnceaCanadiangirlofScottishbloodtoldmeastorythathadbittenherandthetellingbitme.Shesaidthatintheageofgrowingupwhenshefeltthatalleyeswereonherandnotfavorably,sothatshewentfromblushestotearsandbackagain,herHighlandgrandfather,observingherpain,saidsharply,"Yewouldnabesaeworritwi’whatfolkthinkaboutyeifyekennedhowseldomtheydo."Itcuredherandthetellingreassuredmeofprivacy,becauseit’strue.ButMary,whoordinarilylivesinahouseofflowersofherowngrowing,hadheardatone,orfeltacuttingwind.Thiswasadanger,untiltomorrowshouldbeover.

           Ifmyplanhadleapedupfull-grownanddeadlyIwouldhaverejecteditasnonsense.Peopledon’tdosuchthings,butpeopleplaysecretgames.MinebeganwithJoey’srulesforrobbingabank.