that when you married her. Well, all the queer things which she done
while you was away, that folks thought was so funny, come from her idea
of her duty in that direction. If I read her right, she thinks, somehow,
that she proved herself untrue to--to the dead by marrying again, and
she's let it prey on her mind. But that is over with. I think she is
afraid now that she went too far."

"You think so?" Henley breathed hard.

"Yes, I lost patience with her myself during it all, and give her a
piece of my mind one day. If she had been plumb sure she was right she'd
have got mad, but she didn't. She took it different from what I
expected. She never had paid any attention to me before, but after that
day she made a point o' coming to me. She never would bring up the
subject again, but she'd stand and talk with as much respect as if I'd
been some old person. She looked like she was ashamed, and wanted to let
me know in some other way than telling me in so many words. No, you
mustn't go 'way like this, Alfred. It 'ud never do. She ain't to blame
for that old man's joke, and she ought not to suffer for it. She was
glad you was coming back. A woman can read a woman, and she couldn't
hide it. It looked to me like she is glad to get a chance to act
different and do her part. If you was to go off on top of this thing it
would humiliate her awfully. A great deal would be said, and it would
all heap up on her as the prime cause. You are the noblest man I ever
knew, Alfred, and you won't go and do as big a wrong as this would be,
and in such thoughtless haste. A man never can decide on a correct
course when he is upset like you are now, and you'd live to regret it.
Then think of yourself. You was plumb homesick for these old mountains,
and was glad to get back."

"How did you know that?"

"A little bird told me." She quoted the saying with an arch smile. "You
wanted to get here in time to be at the auction sale of that broke-down
circus, and you'll miss a good thing if you go. The horses are in bad
shape, owing to poor feeding and hard use, but there's big come-out in
'em. Nobody else here will have the ready money, and you'd have a clean
walk-over."

"What else have they got besides hosses?" The trader's eyes twinkled
with an interest that broke through the stupor that was on him.

"Oh, lots o' odds and ends; you wait and see. Tote that valise back in
the house, Alfred, and don't do what you'll be sorry for all your life.
If