lad to know the beautiful, refined,
and gentle woman you are so certain of, but not until I am better
dressed and more attractive in appearance than now. If you will give me
your address, I will write you when I am ready for work."

Silently the Harvester wrote it. "Will you give me permission to take
these things to your neighbour for you?" he asked. "They would serve
until you can do better, and I have no earthly use for them."

She hesitated. Then she laughed shortly.

"What a travesty my efforts at pride are with you!" she cried. "I begin
by trying to preserve some proper dignity, and end by confessing abject
poverty. I yet have the ten you paid me the other day, but twenty-four
dollars are not much to set up housekeeping on, and I would be more glad
than I can say for these very things."

"Thank you," said the Harvester. "I will take them when I go. Is there
anything else?"

"I think not."

"Will you have a drink?"

"Yes, if you have more with you. I believe it is really cooling my
blood."

"Are you taking the medicine?"

"Yes," she said, "and I am stronger. Truly I am. I know I appear ghastly
to you, but it's loss of sleep, and trying to lay away poor Aunt Molly
decently, and----"

"And fear of Uncle Henry," added the Harvester.

"Yes," said the Girl. "That most of all! He thinks I am going to stay
here and take her place. I can't tell him I am not, and how I am to hide
from him when I am gone, I don't know. I am afraid of him."

"Has he any claim on you?"

"Shelter for the past three months."

"Are you of age?"

"I am almost twenty-four," she said.

"Then suppose you leave Uncle Henry to me," suggested the Harvester.

"Why?"

"Careful now! The red bird told you why!" said the man. "I will not
urge it upon you now, but keep it steadily in the back of your head that
there is a sunshine room all ready and waiting for you, and I am going
to take you to it very soon. As things are, I think you might allow me
to tell you----"

She was on her feet in instant panic. "I must go," she said. "Uncle
Henry is dogging me to promise to remain, and I will not, and he is
watching me. I must go----"

"Can you give me your word of honour that you will go to the neighbour
woman to-night; that you feel perfectly safe?"

She hesitated. "Yes, I----I think so. Yes, if he doesn't find out and
grow angry. Yes, I will be safe."

"How soon will you write me?"

"Just as soon as I am settled and rest a little."