hould she have watched the movements of Doctor John's gig as it rounded into the open gate of Cobden Manor, she must h

, his body swaying from side to side with the motion of the light vehicle, but as he passed her

d. "I have something import

rare in the doctor's experience that he had at once given up his round of mornin

half a dozen matters, any one of which it would have been a delight to revive. He knew from the way she worded the note that nothing had occurred since he had seen

e lighted up as he entered and took her hand, and imm

t, even before she had time to speak, that something outside

ping her hand in his. "You loo

him to the sofa, "It is about Lucy.

aced a cushion at her back and

nd Miss Collins and study musi

on't want

table to me in so young a girl. She seems to have had no home training whatever. Why Lucy likes her, and why she should have selected her as an intimate friend, has always puzzled me." She spoke with her

question? I am never so hap

some question of investment, nor the repair of the barn or gate or out-building

tone-the tone of the physician, not the lover. She had relied on him, and he in

o would live with her. She wants to be within reach of the same music-teacher who taught the girls at Miss Parkham's school. She says if Lucy will come it will reduce

r to leave?" he

say

t that Martha should be willing to part with her bairn for the winter mystified him. He knew nothing of the flirtation, of co

e said, and a certain tender

. I never seemed to miss my father so much as now. Perhaps it is because Lucy's babyhood and childhood are over and she is entering upon womanhood with all the dangers it brings. And she frightens me

ng for himself as well as Lucy, his voice vibrating under his emotions. It was all

it all out together.' There is no more of that. She goes her own way, and when I chide her laughs and leaves me alone until I make some new advance. Help me, please, and with all the

ply. "I so want to help you"-his whole h

ving sent for him. "I know how sincere your friendship is for me, but put all that aside. Don't let your sympathy for me cloud

ion. If he could only tell her what was in his heart how much easier it would all be! For some

ld let

o you

ooms and studying music will not suit Lucy. When the novelty wears off she will long for her home, and when she com

idently delighted at the change, for the old nurse's face was wreathed in smiles that last morning as they all stood out by the gate while Billy Tatham loaded Lucy's trunks and boxes. Only once did a frown cross her face, and that was when Lucy le

rs to recalling the comforts of her own room at Yardley, so different from what she was enduring at Trenton, and longing for them to come again. Parts of these letters Jane read to the doctor, and all of them to Martha, who received the

t and was handed to the nurse by that young man in person. As he did so he remarked meaningly that Miss Lucy wanted Martha's visit to be kept a secret from everybody but Miss Jane, "just as a surprise," but Martha answered

young man kept away from Trenton and confined himself to War

t do a day longer without her Martha. I'll go in the

bard, started off, while Jane, having persuaded herself that perhaps "the surprise" was meant for her, and that she might be welcoming two exiles instead of one the following night

from the foolish pride of youth, the pride that could not meet defeat. Underneath it she detected, with a thrill, the love of home; this, after all, was what her sister could not do without. It was not Bart this time. That affair, as she had predicted and had repeatedly told Martha, had worn itself

ull, she was out on the front porch without shawl or hat, looking down the path, covered now with dead leaves, and sca

xpectation, and flew to the door to meet the stage, which for some reason-why, she could not tel

ob in her voice. She had reached her side now, followed by Meg,

stage, as if afraid of being overh

couldn'

disappointe

er arm about her and led her up the path. Once she stumbled, her step

porch. Here Martha's trembling foot began to fee

cried in alarm. "Give me t

tha did n

e what

s!" Martha gasped

has ha

re; ups

her, Jane half carrying the fain

y did you try to come home? W

of Jane's bedroom now, M

r, put her bands to her face as if she would shut out

moaned, wringing her

ho

can't s

uc

Y

t i

wor

rtha! N

I wish s

ur of agony, of humi

, the thin cheeks sunken into deeper hollows, the eyes burning. Only the mouth preserved its lines, but firmer

her head still in her palms. She had ceased

d to one of the servants, and droppin

When he comes bring him upstai

its sound-it was Doctor John's. Leaning far over, grasping the top rail of the

st home from Trenton, greatly fatigued, and I beg him to excus

rd the tones of his voice through the open hall d

t alone. Please tell Miss Jane she must not hesitate to send for me if I can be of the

ant in the hall, slipped off his coat, and walked straight upstairs, humming a tune as he came. Jane heard his firm tread, opened the door of their room, and she and Martha crossed the

out, and in a minute I'd been gone for the night. He

ation, except to motion him to a seat. Then Jan

strangles-a look his men knew when someone of them purposely disobeyed his orders. For a moment he stood as if dazed. All he remembered clearly was the white, drawn face of a woman gazing at him with staring, tear-drenched eyes, the slow droppi

r. Catching up his coat, he threw it about him, pulled his hat on, with a jerk, slamming the front door, plunged along through the dry leaves that covered the path, and so on out t

offered him a chair-he was much respected in the village, especially among the ro

for Bart. Has he been here?" The soun

" answered the landlord;

in the captain's eyes and the sharp, cutt

ked a man tilted back in

es

tell ye where

he

and the boys have a deck there Sunday nights

ld make out the heads of the sand-dunes, bearded with yellow grass blown flat against their cheeks. Soon he reached the prow of the old wreck with its shattered timbers and the water-holes left by the tide. These he avoided, but the smaller objects he trampled upon

with his hand as he would have done on his own ship in a fog. He could make out now some streaks of yellow light showing through the cracks one above the other

de on, but at a slower pace. He had found

atch of red was dull. He stood now so near the outside planking that he could hear the laughter and talk of those within. By this time the wind had risen to half a gale and the moan o

t in the big door, extinguishing the light

the cards. I know the door, and can fix

ith a grip of steel, dragged him clear of the door, and up the sand-dunes

p away from me, for I'm

s face with his elbow as if to ward off a blow

ll strangle you. Look at me! Th

made some show of resistance. H

ne anything-a

ers whose heart you've broke, nor of the old woman who nursed her like a mother. You thought of nobody but your stinki

if in supplication. He had never seen his

l you listen

sten to

t all my fault. She ought

out of school, and as innocent as a baby? By God, you'll do

d his fat

e whole story before y

thin'! Will you ac

irst. You wouldn't

clenched fist, quivered for an instant as if struggling against something beyond his c

e gloom. The words rang in his ears like a knell. The realization of his position and what it meant, and might mean, rushed over him. For an instant he leaned heavily

's been outside? My father! Somebody told him, and he'