o anybody
before in all my life, so no one ever wanted to--"

The rest was unintelligible, but perfectly satisfactory to the House
Surgeon. He held her even closer while she sobbed out the tears that
had been intended for the edge of Bridget's bed; and when they were
spent he wiped away all traces with some antiseptic gauze that happened
to be in his pocket.

"I will never be foolish again and remember what lies behind to-night,"
said Margaret MacLean, knowing full well that she would be, and that
often, because of the joy that would lie in remembering and comparing.
"Now tell me, did they make you go, too?"

"The President told me, very courteously, that he felt sure I would be
wishing to find another position elsewhere better suited to my rising
abilities; and if an opportunity should come--next month, perhaps--they
would not wish in any way to interfere with my leaving."

"Ugh! I--"

"No, you don't, dearest. You couldn't expect them to want us around
after the things we magnanimously refrained from saying--but so
perfectly implied."

"All right, I'll love them instead, if you want me to, only--" And she
puckered her forehead into deep furrows of perplexity. "I have kept it
out of my mind all through the evening, but we might as well face it
now as to-morrow morning. What is going to happen to us?"

The House Surgeon turned her about until she was again looking across
the line of scattered blossoms--into the indistinguishable darkness
beyond. He laughed joyously, as a man can laugh when everything lies
before him and there are no regrets left behind. "Have you forgotten
so soon? We are to cross the primrose ring--right here; and follow the
road--there--into faeryland after the children."

"The beds really do look empty."

"They certainly do."

"And we'll find the children there?"

"Of course."

"And I'll not have to give them up?"

"Of course not."

"And we'll all be happy together--somewhere?"

"Yes, somewhere!"

She turned quickly and reached out her arms to him hungrily. "I know
now why a maid always follows the Love-Talker when he comes a-wooing."

"Why, dearest?"

"Because he makes her believe in him and the country where he is taking
her, and that's all a woman asks."

X

WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARD

Everybody woke with a start on the morning following the 30th of April;
things began to happen even before the postman had made his first
rounds. The operators at the telep