in fine reserve which
discouraged promiscuous and effusive confidences. Exhaustive
investigation of their neighbors' affairs had never been their
practice; it was a proud family; a conservative family.

The Smiths had seen no reason to give publicity to their _own_
particular family scandal. Other people's skeletons were interesting,
but the rattling of the bones of their own annoyed them. Then, too, it
was such an old story, its interest as gossip had passed, its piquancy
had evaporated. These people knew none of the parties; it could be to
them of no possible interest even as narrative. There had been no
definite determination on the part of the Smiths to say nothing of the
affair; but nothing had been said. Thorne did not correspond with his
wife, nor did any member of his family, so there were no tell-tale
letters to excite comment or curiosity at the village post-office. How
was Pocahontas to know?

With Thorne's good pleasure, her ignorance would remain until he
himself should lift it.

Norma gave the required promise willingly. She, too, objected to this
affair obtaining publicity. While Thorne sought her father to explain
a sudden call to New York "on business," she communicated the contents
of Mrs. Vincent's letter to her mother, and informed her of Thorne's
determination. Then leaving the good lady to get the better of her
consternation by herself, and to make impossible suggestions, to the
empty air, she repaired to her cousin's room, and assisted him in his
hurried preparations.

CHAPTER XII.

Norma was exultant. The thing she had longed, thirsted and well-nigh
prayed for, was coming to pass. Thorne would be a free man once more,
free to come back to her, free to bring again the old sweetness to her
life, free to renew the spring of years ago. Sitting by the library
fire in the gloaming after her cousin's departure, Norma dreamed dreams
and was happy--her eyes softened, and her lips smiled. Then her face
darkened slowly, and the hands in her lap clinched themselves. In her
fierce joy in the possibility of her reward coming to her at last, was
mingled a dread that the cup might be dashed from her lips a second
time.

During the first couple of months after the removal to Virginia, Norma
had relaxed her constant, imperceptible watch over Thorne. He had
accompanied them to the new home unsolicited; and having come, he had
remained. Small wonder that Norma had been deceived; for va