tion, light was borne in upon her,--light that had had its
origin in the awakened womanhood.

"I kind o' guess you know what I mean, Janet; an' I wish t' the Lord I
had let you help frum the start. There ain't another soul as I kin go
t' here until it's too late t' do fur Maud Grace--not a soul but you!
An' God knows, I don't understand how it is I kin hope from you; but I
kin! I jest kin! You won't be hard, fur all you don't love Maud Grace
much. I know true as heaven, you'll be gentle t' her now, when you
wasn't before!" The poor fellow's face was distorted and quivering, but
he had no need to hold Janet. She had come close and was resting her
hand upon his bowed shoulder.

"Mark!" she whispered, "you mean--you mean?"

The man nodded dumbly.

"And, of course, they would all turn upon her! They do not seem to know
any reason for showing mercy. Oh! I do understand." The dark eyes
blazed; then softened under a mist as memory recalled the pitiful story
of that other Quinton girl; and Mrs. Jo G.'s kindness that black night
when she, Janet, was born. But now there was no Cap'n Billy to pilot
this sad little wreck.

"I don't know what t' do!" moaned Mark, covering his face with his thin,
rough hands. "I can't bear t' think of her driftin' off, Lord knows
where; an' I don't b'lieve she's got a cent, an' even if she walked t'
the city, she can't never git him."

"No!" Janet was thinking quick and hard. "When did she go?"

"She went 'fore breakfast, an' she told her little sister t' tell her
mother she'd gone t' you!"

"To me?"

"Yes. An' course that was just t' spar fur time."

"Of course! Well, Mark, we must find her, and then--she may stay with
me!" Janet drew herself up very straight and there was defiance in her
action and expression. "Are any of the boats gone?"

"Lord knows!" shivered Mark, "but she wouldn't try a boat. She can't
sail fit fur anythin'. She's got the fear so many down here has--fur the
water. Don't you remember?" But the suggestion brought a new agony to
the poor fellow. "Whatever made you think of a boat?" he said.

Suddenly a further knowledge, born of the new womanhood, almost blinded
Janet. This simple fellow, suffering at her feet, had never loved her!
She had but led him far afield in some strange fashion. He had always
loved the missing, giddy girl; and this awful trouble had driven the
dense fog away forever! In the clear view, Janet's heart arose in
sympathy.

"You love her, Mark