girl relaxed, tiredly, against his shoulder and
argued dreamily:

"I don't see what you can do. You'll have to take _me_. And I don't
see how you can take me any way but just as I am."

Then she was suddenly conscious that the world was observing. She drew
quickly away, and Jeffrey, still dazed and shaken, let her go.

Standing, looking at her with eyes that hungered and adored, he began
to speak in wonder and self-abasement.

"After all I've made you suffer--!"

But Ruth would have none of this. It had been nothing, she declared.
She had found work to do. She had been happy, in a way. God had been
very kind.

At length Jeffrey said: "Well, I guess we'll never have to misunderstand
again, anyway, Ruth. I had to find God because I was--I needed Him.
Now I want to find Him--your way."

"You mean--you mean that you _believe_!"

"Yes," said Jeffrey slowly. "I didn't think I ever would. I certainly
didn't want to. But I do. And it isn't just to win with you, Ruth, or
to make you happier. I can't help it. It's the thing the Bishop once
told me about--the thing that's bigger than I am."

Now Ruth, all zeal and thankfulness, was for leading him forthwith to
Father Ponfret, that he might begin at once his course of instructions
which she assured him was essential.

But Jeffrey demurred. He had been reading books all winter, he said.
Though he admitted that until last night he had not understood much
of it. Now it was all clear and easy, thank God! Could she not come
home, then, to his mother, who was pining for her--and--and they would
have all their lives to finish the instructions.

On this, however, Ruth was firm. Here she would stay, among these good
people where she had made for herself a place and a home. He must come
every week to Father Ponfret for his instructions, like any other
convert. If on those occasions he also came to see her, well, she
would, of course, be glad to see him and to know how he was
progressing.

Afterwards? Well, afterwards, they would see.

And to this Jeffrey was forced to agree.

Old Robbideau Laclair, when he heard of this arrangement, grumbled
that the way of the heretic was indeed made easy in these days. But
his wife Philomena, scraping sharply with her stick, informed him that
if the good Ruth saw fit to convert even a heathen Turk into a husband
for herself she would no doubt make a good job of it.

So love came and went through the summer, practically unrebuked.

Agai