s telegram," he
said in his deep voice that commands everybody and everything, even the
terrors of birth and death. "The whole town will be paralysed at the
news that its most distinguished citizen is only going to give them two
days to get ready to receive him. I can see the panic the brass band
will have now getting the brass polished up, and I want to be the one
to tell Mayor Pollard myself, so as to suggest to him to have at least
a two-hour speech of welcome to hand out at the train. We'll make it a
great time for him when he lands in the old town."

* * * * *

Tom took Pet home early, and I hope they walked in the moonlight for
hours. Tom is the kind of man that any pretty girl who is sympathetic
enough in the moonlight could comfort for anything. I'm not at all
worried about him, but--

The hour I sat in the garden and talked to Judge Wade must have brought
grey hairs to my head if it was daylight and I could see them. Ruth
Clinton had said good-bye with the loveliest haunted look in her great
dark eyes, and I had felt as if I had killed something that was alive.
Dr. John had been called from his coffee to a patient and had gone with
just a friendly word of good night, and the others had at last left the
judge and me alone--also in the moonlight, which I wished in my heart
somebody would put out.

To-night he looked me in the face and told me how to marry, and I'm not
sure yet that I won't do as he says. Of course I'm in love with Alfred,
but if he wants me he had better get me away quick before the judge
makes all his arrangements. A woman loves to be courted with poems and
flowers and deference, but she's wonderfully apt to marry the man who
says, "Don't argue, but put on your bonnet and come with me."

Oh, I'm crying, crying in my heart, which is worse than in my eyes, as
I sit and look across my garden, where the cold moon is hanging low over
the tall trees behind the doctor's house and his light in his room is
burning warm and bright. They are right: _he_ doesn't care if I am
going away for ever with Alfred. His quick eulogy of him, and the lovely
warm look he poured over poor frightened me at his side, told me that
once and for all. Still, we have been so close together over his baby,
and I have grown so dependent on him for so many things, that it cuts
into me like a hot knife that he shouldn't care if he lost me--even for
a neighbour. I shouldn't mind not having _any_ h