h he usually
greeted her efforts to beautify the house.

"A few flowers make the shack look more bright and cozy."

He took in the room with a glance that approved of everything.

"You've made it a real home, Nora. Mrs. Sharp never stops talking of how
you've done it. She was saying only the other day it was because you was
a lady. It does make a difference, I guess, although I didn't use to
think _so_."

Nora gave him a smile full of indulgence.

"I'm glad you haven't found me quite a hopeless failure."

"I guess I've never been so comfortable in all my life. It's what I
always said: once English girls _do_ take to the life, they make a
better job of it than anybody."

"What's the man come over from Prentice for?" asked Nora. They were
approaching a subject she always avoided.

"I guess you ain't been terribly happy here, my girl," he said gravely,
unmindful of her question.

"What on earth makes you say that?"

"You've got too good a memory, I guess, and you ain't ever forgiven me
for that first night."

It was the first time he had alluded to the subject for months. Would
he never understand that she wanted to forget it! He might know that it
always irritated her.

"I made up my mind very soon that I must accept the consequences of what
I'd done. I've tried to fall in with your ways," she said coldly.

"You was clever enough to see that I meant to be the master in my own
house and that I had the strength to make myself so."

How unlike his latter self this boastful speech was. But then he had
been utterly unlike himself for several days. What did he mean? She knew
him well enough by now to know that he never acted without meaning. But
directness was one of his most admirable characteristics. It was unlike
him to be devious, as he was being now. But if the winter had taught her
anything, it had taught her patience.

"I've cooked for you, mended your clothes, and I've kept the shack
clean. I've tried to be obliging and--and obedient." The last word was
not yet an easy one to pronounce.

"I guess you hated me, though, sometimes." He gave a little chuckle.

"No one likes being humiliated; and you humiliated me."

"Ed's coming here presently, my girl."

"Ed who?"

"Your brother Ed."

"Eddie! When?"

"Why, right away, I guess. He was in Prentice this morning."

"How do you know?"

"He 'phoned over to Sharp to say he was riding out."

"Oh, how splendid! Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I