"I--I wanted
to ask if you needed any assistance."
"What do you mean?"
"You are going into the mountains?"
"Yes, sir."
"You will need to have some one to show you the way and look after you
and your party."
"We already have engaged some one to do that. You mean a guide, I
suppose?"
He nodded.
"May I ask your name?"
"John Collins."
"Do you live here?" she asked, curious to know more about the man, whom
she began to distrust.
"Not now. I live over in the next village. I was in town and heard
that you folks wanted a guide. I know more about the White Mountains
than any other man in the State of New Hampshire. I can show you more,
and take better care of your party, than anybody else you could find."
"Do you know Janus Grubb?"
"Ye--yes," Collins twisted uneasily, "I know him."
"He is to be our guide. The arrangements were made some time ago by
the father of one of our young women. Mr. Grubb starts with us
tomorrow morning, unless there should be some change in the
arrangements."
"I'm sorry, Miss."
"I'm sorry, too, since you have been so kind as to offer your
services," replied the guardian politely.
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