ure that fits you.
'Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.' I know your
age--you are just seventeen, I'm only nineteen, just two years older
than you. You have no feeling for me. Suppose I had none for you?"

The refinement of the girl's voice became more and more apparent to
Catherine. There was a thrill and a quality in it which both repelled
and fascinated. This queer waif and stray, this vagabond of the
woodside, was at least as fearless as herself.

"I don't know what you mean," she said, in a less imperious tone than
she had hitherto used.

"I could explain what I mean, but I won't. I have too kind a heart to
crush you. I could crush you. I could take that dainty white hand of
yours, and feel it tremble in mine--and if you knew all that I could say
you wouldn't leave me out here in the avenue, but you'd take me in, and
give me the best to eat, and the softest bed to lie upon. Don't you
think it's very kind of me when I could use such power over you that I
don't use it? Don't you think it's noble of me? Oh, you are a dainty
girl, and a proud, but I could bring you and yours to the very dust."

"You must be mad," said Catherine. "Absolutely mad. How can you possibly
expect me to listen to this wild nonsense? You had better go away now.
I'll walk with you as far as the gate, and then I'll wake up Tester to
lock it after you. You needn't suppose that I'm afraid."

"Don't taunt me," said the girl. "If you do I'll use my power. Oh, I am
hungry, and thirsty, and footsore. Why shouldn't I go into that house
and sleep there, and eat there, and be rested?"

Her words were defiant, but just at the last they wavered, and Catherine
saw by the moonlight that her face grew ghastly under its grimness, and
she saw the slender young figure sway as if it would fall.

"You are hungry?" said Catherine, all her feelings merged in sudden
pity. "Even though you have no right to be here, you sha'n't go hungry
away. Sit down. Rest against that tree, and I will fetch you something."

She ran into the house, returning presently with a jug of milk, and some
thick bread and butter.

"Eat that," she said, "and drink this milk, then you will be better. I
slipped a cup into my pocket. It is not broken. I will pour you out a
cup of milk."

The girl seized the bread and butter, and began devouring it. She was so
famished that she almost tore it as she ate. Catherine, who had quite
forgotten her dignified _role_ in comp