ver be content without. It was
a most unsatisfactory situation, so far as he was concerned, and, with
no duty to perform, no drill to stir his blood, nothing to do but try to
comfort mother, reassure Maidie, who was writing every day or two, watch
for the coming of the mail from Manila and the detail for his court,
Sandy Ray was growing morbid.

He was gone and loping up the valley when the phaeton with pale-faced,
languid Mrs. Dwight stopped at the door for Miss Sanford. Ray did not
wish to see her. He had not seen her to speak to since the night before
Dwight's breakdown, as that episode by common consent was now referred
to. He had altered his manner toward Priscilla, though resentment still
rankled, because of her almost dependent position under their roof. Had
Priscilla owned enough money to take her back to the seaboard States,
and had then remained, Sandy, perhaps, would have found forgiveness
beyond him. Even now he raged at heart when he thought of her willful
exaggeration as to the Canteen, her utter misrepresentation of
facts--especially as to his father. Again and again he owned to his
mother he felt like shaking Priscilla whenever he looked at little Jim,
who so often now became his companion on these daily rides. Once or
twice, when the patient was sleeping soundly, the doctors had taken the
lad to his bedside, but the meeting between them was yet to come. Dwight
was still too weak for experiments, and how he would bear it all when
stronger was a matter of grave conjecture.

But on this particular day when the phaeton came for Priscilla, little
Jim had again been trouting with Sergeant French and, as luck would have
it, came dancing in with his basket of prizes to show Aunt Marion just
as Priscilla descended from her room, dressed for the drive. Three weeks
agone Priscilla would have reproved his entering without first washing
his hands and smoothing his hair. To-day she bent and hurriedly kissed
his flushed and happy face, and he looked up astonished. They had never
let him know--they could not bear to speak of--Priscilla's share in the
events of that tragic morning, and when in her downright honesty
Priscilla would have sought and told him, Aunt Marion forbade. The boy
who formerly shrank from was now growing to like her. She read to him,
helped him in the daily lessons, Aunt Marion deeming it wise he should
study even though this was vacation time; but never before had he known
Priscilla to tender a ca