CHAPTER XVI.
HOW ONE FELL OVER Gard's first waking thoughts next morning were of Nance entirely.
He would see her at dinner-time.

How would he find her?
Last night the disturbance of her feelings had shaken her out of herself somewhat, and shown her to him in new and delightful lights.
If, this morning, she should be to some extent withdrawn again into her natural modest shell, he would not be surprised; and he made up his mind, then and there, to be in no wise disappointed.

Last night was a fact, a delightful fact, on which to build the rosy future.
It was a long time to wait till dinner-time to see her.

What if he went round that way, before going to work, just to inquire if Tom got home all right.
And then the feeling of discomfort in his eye and nose, as though the one had shrunk to the size of a pin-point and the other had grown to the bulk of a turnip--brought back the whole matter, and on further consideration he decided not to go to the farm till the proper time.

If he came across Tom, the fray would inevitably be resumed at once, and his right eye, at the moment, showed a decided disinclination to open to its usual extent, or to perform any of the functions properly demanded of a right eye contemplating battle.
He must get up at once and bathe it and bring it to reason.
Raw beef, he believed, was the correct treatment under the circumstances.