at score, even in the shame of failure.

XVII.

Matt Hilary gave himself time, on his way to the Northwick place, or at
least as much time as would pass between walking and driving, but that
was because he was impatient, and his own going seemed faster to his
nerves than that of the swiftest horse could have seemed. At the crest
of the upland which divides Hatboro' from South Hatboro', and just
beyond the avenue leading to Dr. Morrell's house, he met Sue Northwick;
she was walking quickly, too. She was in mourning, but she had put aside
her long, crape veil, and she came towards him with her proud face
framed in the black, and looking the paler for it; a little of her
yellow hair showed under her bonnet. She moved imperiously, and Matt was
afraid to think what he was thinking at sight of her. She seemed not to
know him at first, or rather not to realize that it was he; when she
did, a joyful light, which she did not try to hide from him, flashed
over her visage; and "Mr. Hilary!" she said as simply and hospitably as
if their last parting had not been on terms of enmity that nothing could
clear up or explain away.

He ran forward and caught her hand. "Oh, I am so glad," he said. "I was
going out to see you about something--very important; and I might have
missed you."

"No. I was just coming to the doctor's, and then I was going back. My
sister isn't at all well, and I thought she'd better see the doctor."

"It's nothing serious, I hope?"

"Oh, no. I think she's a little worn out."'

"I know!" said Matt, with intelligence, and nothing more was said
between them as to the cause or nature of Adeline's sickness. Matt asked
if he might go up the doctor's avenue with her, and they walked along
together under the mingling elm and maple tops, but he deferred the
matter he wished to speak of. They found a little girl playing in the
road near the house, and Sue asked, "Is your father at home, Idella?"

"Mamma is at home," said the child. She ran forward, calling toward the
open doors and windows, "Mamma! Mamma! Here's a lady!"

"It isn't their child," Sue explained. "It's the daughter of the
minister who was killed on the railroad, here, a year or two ago--a very
strange man, Mr. Peck."

"I have heard Wade speak of him," said Matt.

A handsome and very happy looking woman came to the door, and stilled
the little one's boisterous proclamation to the hoarse whisper of, "A
lady! A lady!" as she took her hand; bu