n I
dance with him. That's how I knew he wanted me. And I'm rather glad of
it," she finished, her voice oddly kind.

Kate at the moment could think of nothing further to say. The thing was
incomprehensible to her, appalling, yet strangely touching. This
twenty-year-old girl, groping her way toward safety, that refuge of the
middle-aged, as eagerly as other young things grasp at happiness, at
romance!--She recalled phrases spoken by another startled mother to
another girl quite as headstrong: "You are only a child! He is twice
your age! You don't _know_!"

She did not give them utterance. What was the use? In this, if in
nothing else, Jemima was her mother's daughter. She would always make
her own decisions.

The girl went on presently to mention various advantages of the proposed
marriage.

"Of course Professor Jim is quite rich--Oh, yes, didn't you know that? I
asked him his income, and he told me. With that, and the money you have
promised me, we can travel and see the world, and keep a good house to
come back to. I could do a good deal for Jacqueline, of course. You will
visit us, too, whenever you like. It may be my only chance of getting
away from Storm, you see. I do not meet many young men, and I'm not the
sort they are apt to marry, anyway."

"Are you so anxious to get away from Storm?" interrupted poor Kate. "You
said you were homesick for us."

"And will be again, often. But that's a weakness one has to get over.
And then, though I have been happy here, I've been unhappy, too. Lonely
and a little--ashamed, lately." She forgot for the moment to whom she
was speaking. Kate had ceased to be a person, was only "mother" to her,
a warm, enfolding comprehension, such as perhaps children are aware of
before they come to the hour of birth.--"Oh, it _will_ be good to live
among people who don't know, who aren't always staring and whispering
behind their hands about us Kildares!" she sighed.

Kate forced herself to say, impartially, "Lexington is not far away. I
am afraid there will always be people there who know about us Kildares,
dear."

"Lexington?" The girl's lip curled. "You don't suppose I shall let my
husband spend the rest of his life in a little place like that! He has
been wasted there too long already, he is a brilliant scholar, Mother,
far more brilliant than people realize, too modest and simple to make
the most of himself. You wait! I'll see to that."

Kate gave up. She lifted her daughter in h