Some of them took to drink, or got into trouble with the
police, and went off--disappeared into the woods. A year or two later
there was a report that they were living up on the Mountain. Then I
suppose others joined them--and children were born. Now they say there
are over a hundred people up there. They seem to be quite outside the
jurisdiction of the valleys. No school, no church--and no sheriff ever
goes up to see what they're about. But don't people ever talk of them at
North Dormer?"
"I don't know. They say they're bad."
He laughed. "Do they? We'll go and see, shall we?"
She flushed at the suggestion, and turned her face to his. "You never
heard, I suppose--I come from there. They brought me down when I was
little."
"You?" He raised himself on his elbow, looking at her with sudden
interest. "You're from the Mountain? How curious! I suppose that's why
you're so different...."
Her happy blood bathed her to the forehead. He was praising her--and
praising her because she came from the Mountain!
"Am I.
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