d."

The young Quaker was more profoundly enthralled by this unexpected
confession of the girl than by any other word she could have uttered.
His own knowledge of life was neither wide nor deep, and his sense of
responsibility not especially keen; and yet he experienced a thrill of
pleasure and a certain lift of spirit as he stood looking down at
her--the attitude of confidential spiritual adviser began at the moment
to yield a sweet satisfaction as well as an agreeable realization of
power. How much Haney's mines were pouring forth he did not know, but
their wealth was said to be enormous. Every day added to the
potentiality of this gray-eyed girl who stood so trustfully, so like a
pupil, before him.

He spoke with emotion. "I'll do what I can to advise you and help you,
and so will Alice. Allen Crego is a good man--he has your legal
business, I believe?"

"Yes, I think he's square, and I like him. But I can't go to Mrs. Crego;
she despises us--that's one good reason." She smiled faintly. "But it
ain't legal advice I want--it's something else. I don't know what it is.
Our minister isn't the man, either. I guess I want somebody that knows
life, and that ain't either a lawyer or a minister. I want some one to
take our affairs in hand. I need all kinds of advice. Won't you give it
to me?"

He smiled. "I'd like to help, but I am only a lawyer--and a very young
one at that."

"I don't think of you as a lawyer; you're more than that to us."

"What am I, then?"

The color danced along her cheek as she uttered a phrase so current in
the West that it has a certain humorous sound: "You're a gentleman and a
scholar."

"Thank you. But I fear you mean by that that I take life very easily."

She grew serious again. "No, I don't. Anybody can see you're honest. I
trust you more than I do Judge Crego, and so does the Captain. You can
tell us things we want to know. We both know a little about business,
but we don't know much about other things. That's where we both fall
down."

This frank expression of regard brought about a moment of emotional
tension, and Ben hesitated before replying. At last he said: "I hope I
shall always deserve your confidence. I wish I had the wisdom you credit
me with. I wonder what I can tell you?"

"Tell me what you would do if you were in my place."

Quick as a sunbeam his smile flashed out. "Be your own good, joyous
self. Whatever you do, don't lose what you are now--the quality which
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