"I was just on the point of speaking, when you heard me.

I ought to have spoken before, but you made so charming a picture sitting there among the leaves and vines that I could not resist looking at you a little longer." Mercy Philbrick hated a compliment.

This was partly the result of the secluded life she had led; partly an instinctive antagonism in her straightforward nature to any thing which could be even suspected of not being true.

The few direct compliments she had received had been from men whom she neither respected nor trusted.

These words, coming from Stephen White, just at this moment, were most offensive to her.
Her face flushed still deeper red, and saying curtly,--"You frightened me very much, Mr.White; but it is not of the least consequence," she turned to walk back to the village.