hat Helen will grow up to be beautiful?" she
pleaded after her momentary triumph.

"Yes, I certainly do," I answered stubbornly.

"We shall see," she exclaimed, tossing her head.

"Don't think," said I, "that I believe that she will be more beautiful
than you, Georgy. I don't imagine any girl could be that, but--"

"Well, what else?" she asked, smiling and dimpling.

"But think of something besides beauty," I ventured humbly. "'Tis so
poor a preparation for a woman's life, Georgy, to care merely for
outside loveliness. I want you to pray for a sweet, loving, grateful
nature, Georgy--not to nurse bad, revengeful thoughts."

She stared at me in profound surprise, then burst out laughing. "I
didn't know you had grown pious," she observed with a shrug; and, seeing
the fruits and confectionery piled on the table at my side, begged me to
offer her some, and fell to eating them ravenously, despite the dignity
of her sixteen years, and after devouring all she could, carried the
rest of them away in her arms.

I sat quietly thinking about her after I was left alone. I smiled to
myself at the thought of her coquettish parting glance, for I was sure
she would have kissed me again had I asked her; but I wanted no more of
her kisses, although I had found them so sweet. I seemed to have
suddenly grown stronger and wiser where she was concerned; yet I suppose
the poor truth of the matter was, that she had stung my vanity keenly,
and said little to endear herself to me in our recent interview. Her
words, instead of harming me, had roused all the resentment of the
strong vital force within me. I felt curiously stirred, almost elated,
in remembering what she had said, and contrasting her prophecies of
impotence and failure with my growing sense of power. When the door-bell
rang presently I myself hobbled across the floor on my crutches and
opened it.

Jack Holt stood there. "Why, 'tis not really you, Floyd?" he exclaimed
in surprise; and taking away one of my crutches, he himself supported
me back to my chair. "I was afraid to come in," he went on, sitting down
by my side, "lest you should already be over-tired; but if you are well
enough to see me I have something to tell you."

"Oh, I am better to-night. In fact, all at once I feel that I am not
always going to be the good-for-nothing fellow I have been of late. I
begin to have a consciousness that somewhere within me life and energy
are stirring again."

"I am so glad!" sa