he grave burden of my soul.

"Mr. Rollin," I said; "if I had come to Wallencamp merely in search of my
own pleasure and diversion, I should doubtless find it very easy to do
some things which I do not consider harmful in themselves, but which it
is wrong for me to do under the circumstances. I may tell you that I have
been very reckless, very thoughtless in my life, but I came here
resolving to devote myself to an earnest, serious work. I hoped to do
these people good. They do seem to believe in me. They trust me. I cannot
bear that they should think me in any way unworthy of their trust. When
you asked me to drive this evening,--it was just as it used to be--I did
not think. You were very kind. It was pleasant, and I thank you,--but I
ought not to have gone--don't you see? I believe, now, that it would have
been so much better if I had not."

"I don't see," said Mr. Rollin; "why should you leave _me_ out
altogether? Don't I believe in you? Don't I need to be done some good
to?"

At this last childishly whimsical appeal I was in sore danger of being
diverted from the serious channel of my thoughts. Then the door of the
Ark softly opened a little way, and there, nightcapped in white, like a
full, benignant moon, appeared the head of Grandma Keeler, as she peered
blindly out into the night.

"Poor old soul!" I said. "She has probably been 'waiting and watching.'
Don't you see already one of the results of my sinning? Good night," I
said, extending my hand to the fisherman, who had fixed on that innocent
and unconscious nightcap a darkly withering gaze.

"Oh, never mind me," he muttered, turning abruptly. "Only take care of
this infernal old nest of Hoosiers, and respectable people may go to the
devil!"

CHAPTER VI.

BECKY AND THE CRADLEBOW.

"Teacher's got Beck's beau!"

"Teacher's got Beck's beau!" I heard it whispered among the school
children. Rebecca heard, too, and paled a little, but looked up at me and
smiled as frankly as ever.

Seeing her alone afterwards, I took occasion to remark, incidentally,
"how kind it was of her friend, Mr. Rollin, to bring me home from church.
Fanny was so slow! And I thought he was a very pleasant young man, but
even the most estimable people, you know," I added, laughing, with an
undertone of studied significance; "are not just fitted to enjoy each
other's society always."

Then I blushed under the girl's clear, trustful gaze.

"You don't think I mind what the c