I was conscientious in my supervision ; but I felt no interest in it . The place was intended for roses , and roses made me think of the pale yellow ones Betty had worn at her breast one evening the week before , when , all lovers being unaccountably absent , we had wandered together under the pines and talked as in the old days before her young womanhood and my gray hairs had risen up to divide us . She had dropped a rose on the brown floor , and I had sneaked back , after I had left her the house , to get it , before I went home . I had it now in my pocket-book . Confound it , might n't a future uncle cherish a family affection for his prospective niece ? Frank 's wooing seemed to prosper . The other young sparks , who had haunted Glenby , faded away after his advent . Betty treated him with most encouraging sweetness ; Sara smiled on him ; I stood in the background , like a benevolent god of the machine , and flattered myself that I pulled the strings . At the end of a month something went wrong . Frank came home from Glenby one day in the dumps , and moped for two whole days . I rode down myself on the third . I had not gone much to Glenby that month ; but , if there were trouble Bettyward , it was my duty to make smooth the rough places . As usual , I found Betty in the pineland . I thought she looked rather pale and dull ... fretting about Frank no doubt . She brightened up when she saw me , evidently expecting that I had come to straighten matters out ; but she pretended to be haughty and indifferent . `` I am glad you have n't forgotten us altogether , Stephen , '' she said coolly . `` You have n't been down for a week . '' `` I 'm flattered that you noticed it , '' I said , sitting down on a fallen tree and looking up at her as she stood , tall and lithe , against an old pine , with her eyes averted . `` I should n't have supposed you 'd want an old fogy like myself poking about and spoiling the idyllic moments of love 's young dream . '' `` Why do you always speak of yourself as old ? ''
said XXXXX , crossly , ignoring my reference to Frank .
Betty Bettyward Sara Stephen day left month pineland third week