me to time,
then she glanced around at Wollaston, and her expression was almost
idiotic. The people who were on the seat with them moved away. Maria
turned suddenly to Gladys.

"Gladys Mann," said she, "if you ever tell of this--"

"Then you ain't goin' to--" said Gladys.

"Going to what?"

"Live with him?"

"Live with him! I hate him enough to wish he was dead. I'll never
live with him; and if you tell, Gladys Mann, I'll tell you what I'll
do."

"What?" asked Gladys, in a horrified whisper.

"I'll go and drown myself in Fisher's Pond, that's what I'll do."

"I never will tell, honest, M'ria," said Gladys.

"You'd better not."

"Hope to die, if I do."

"You _will_ die if you do," said Maria, "for I'll leave a note saying
you pushed me into the pond, and it will be true, too. Oh, Gladys
Mann! it's awful what you've done!"

"I didn't mean no harm," said Gladys.

"And there's a train, too."

"Father said there wasn't."

"Your father!"

"I know it. There ain't never tellin' when father lies," said Gladys.
"I guess father don't know what lies is, most of the time. I s'pose
he's always had a little, if he 'ain't had a good deal. But I'll
never tell, Maria, not as long as I live."

"If you do, I'll drown myself," said Maria.

Then the two sat quietly until the train was called out, when they
went through the gate, Maria showing her tickets for herself and
Gladys. Wollaston had purchased his own and returned Maria's. He kept
behind the two girls as if he did not belong to their party at all.
On the train he rode in the smoking-car.

The car was quite full at first, but the passengers got off at the
way-stations. When they drew near Edgham there were only a few left.
Wollaston had not paid the slightest attention to the passengers. He
could not have told what sort of a man occupied the seat with him,
nor even when he got off. He was vaguely conscious of the reeking
smoke of the car, but that was all. When the conductor came through
he handed out his ticket mechanically, without looking at him. He
stared out of the window at the swift-passing, shadowy trees, at the
green-and-red signal-lights, and the bright glare from the lights of
the stations through which they passed. Once they passed by a large
factory on fire, surrounded by a shouting mob of men, and engines.
Even that did not arrest his attention, although it caused quite a
commotion in the car. He sat huddled up in a heap, staring out with
blan