-school teacher, years ago, but
since then, I am afraid, I have lost touch with him, until recently,
when Miss Trevor brought him back to my mind."

"It's about his drinking," Miss Piper continued, nervously, as if at a
loss to know how to broach the subject without giving offence.

"Ye come to blame me fer servin' him, I suppose?" Nancy suggested,
without the slightest trace of animosity in her tones.

"We don't blame you, Mrs. McVeigh. Please do not misunderstand our
intentions. The fact is, we know you to be--er--different from most
women, and your house is your living, but Mr. Keene is a young man with
an exceptionally bright future, if he will only settle down to it. I
have heard a great deal about you, Mrs. McVeigh, and I know the
goodness of your heart from the part you took at Brother Tom's death.
We were sure of your co-operation, and that is why we have come to you."

"And what can I do?" Nancy asked, kindly.

"Stop his drinking, please," burst out the younger woman, impetuously,
and then she blushed furiously, while Miss Piper frowned. Nancy,
however, let the remark pass unnoticed, and asked, with feigned
innocence, "Is he yer young man, Miss Trevor?"

The girl, for she was easily under twenty-one, was more embarrassed
than ever at the keen intuition of the old tavern-keeper, and an
awkward silence ensued, during which Miss Piper vainly tried to say
something to bring the conversation back to more conventional lines.

"Do you love him?" Nancy questioned further, relentless in her desire
to enjoy the privileges of being a confidant in Miss Piper's plans.

Miss Trevor would have answered haughtily enough if it had been an
ordinary acquaintance who thus probed into her secrets, but the strong,
trustful influence of this woman humbled her into a school-girl
demeanor.

"Yes," she answered, simply, and Miss Piper became more uncomfortable.

"Does he know it?" Nancy persisted.

"No,--er--perhaps. Oh, Mrs. McVeigh, you seem to have taken all my
sense out of me," the girl gasped, helplessly, and covered her crimson
face with her handkerchief.

"I'm glad to know this. Begging your pardon, Miss Piper, but if you
come to me fer advice I must have more than half-truths. I've known
Johnny Keene since he was a baby, and it's little good I've to his
credit either, but I'm no sayin' it's not there. He takes after his
mother, ye know. He's about run his course, and if Miss Trevor will
take the word of an