Besides , I 'm used to it . Did n't I tell you I 'd always been Father 's boy ? '' `` I well believe it , '' I thought in disgust , as she led the horse over to the well and I went up to Aunt Lucy . Through the sitting-room windows I kept a watchful eye on Miss Ashley as she watered and deftly unharnessed Charley and led him into his stable with sundry pats on his nose . Then I saw no more of her till she came in to tell us tea was ready , and led the way out to the dining room . It was evident Miss Gussie held the reins of household government , and no doubt worthily . Those firm , capable white hands of hers looked as though they might be equal to a good many emergencies . She talked little , leaving the conversation to Aunt Lucy and myself , though she occasionally dropped in an apt word . Toward the end of the meal , however , she caught hold of an unfortunate opinion I had incautiously advanced and tore it into tatters . The result was a spirited argument , in which Miss Gussie held her own with such ability that I was utterly routed and found another grievance against her . It was very humiliating to be worsted by a girl -- a country girl at that , who had passed most of her life on a farm ! No doubt she was strong-minded and wanted to vote . I was quite prepared to believe anything of her . After tea Miss Ashley proposed a walk around the premises , in order to initiate me into my duties . Apart from his farm , Mr. Ashley owned large grist-and saw-mills and did a flourishing business , with the details of which Miss Gussie seemed so conversant that I lost all doubt of her ability to run the whole thing as she had claimed . I felt quite ignorant in the light of her superior knowledge , and our walk was enlivened by some rather too lively discussions between us . We walked about together , however , till the shadows of the firs by the mills stretched nearly across the pond and the white moon began to put on a silvery burnish . Then we wound up by a bitter dispute , during which Gussie 's eyes were very black and each cheek had a round , red stain on it . She had a little air of triumph at having defeated me . `` I have to go now and see about putting away the milk , and I dare say you 're not sorry to be rid of me , '' she said , with a demureness I had not credited her with , `` but if you come to the verandah in half an hour I 'll bring you out a glass of new milk and some pound cake I made today by a recipe that 's been in the family for one hundred years , and I hope it will choke you for all the snubs you 've been giving me . ''
She walked away after this amiable wish , and I stood by the pond till the salmon tints faded from its waters and stars began XXXXX mirror themselves brokenly in its ripples .
Besides around between by for in of on that to