He ceased abruptly. For Betty's eyes were shining and she was
thrusting her little cold hand into his big one.

"You're not!" she exclaimed.

"Yes I am," the boy returned.

"Anthony Graham, Nan's brother?" Betty laughed happily. "Then please
give me back the money I refused. I did not understand that you were
returning the loan. Of course I understand how you feel about it. And
do come back and into the house with me. I so want you to tell me all
about yourself. I hope you have had splendid luck."

The young man's shabby appearance did not suggest sudden riches.
Nevertheless he smiled.

For more than ever did Betty Ashton appear to him like the Princess of
his dreams. Only once before had he met her face to face. And yet the
vision had never left him. He could still see the picture of a girl
moving toward him, her face filled with shame--for him--and her eyes
downcast; and thrusting into his clenched fist, which had so lately
been raised to injure her, the money which had given him the desired
opportunity for getting away from his old associations and beginning
again.

Enter her home and tell her of his struggle! Anthony felt far more
like kneeling in the dust at her feet. Yet being a boy he could only
blush and stammer without words to voice his gratitude.

Betty was beginning to shiver. "Please come, I am so lonely," she
urged. "I have had the horridest kind of a Thanksgiving day. Only a
little while ago I was having a hard time trying to remember the things
that I have to be thankful for."

CHAPTER II

BETTY'S KNIGHT

The drawing room fire was soon
crackling. "It is so nice to feel
I have the privilege of lighting it;
I have been dying to for the past hour,
but didn't think I could afford it without
company," Betty confided, blowing at the
flames. "Do please get some chairs and
let us draw up quite close. It is so much
pleasanter to talk that way."

Yet Anthony Graham only stared without
moving. To think of a Princess speaking
of not being able to afford so inexpensive a
luxury as a fire. Suddenly the young man
longed to be able immediately to chop
down an entire forest of trees and lay it as
a thank offering before her. Of course his
sister Nan had written him of Mr. Ashton's
death and of the change in the family
fortunes, but to associate real poverty with
his conception of Betty was impossible.
Glancing uneasily about the great room it
was good to see how beautifu