daughter, my own flesh
and blood, against insult at the cost of my life, if need be. I have
devoted my life to her; I have toiled and suffered for her since I gave
her birth, and no man shall enter my house and insult her while I have
strength to protect her." She gathered force while she spoke, and talked
herself into believing what she knew was false, as you and I may easily
do in very important matters if we try.

"My dear woman," said Billy, in surprise bordering on consternation,
"you don't mean you wish us to believe that you believe that Dic
insulted Rita?"

"Yes, I saw him insult her. I saw it with my own eyes."

"In what manner?" demanded Dic.

He was beginning to grasp the meaning of her accusation, and was
breathing heavily from suppressed excitement. Before she could reply he
fully understood, and a wave of just anger swept over him.

"Old woman, you know you lie!" he cried. "I revere the tips of Rita's
fingers, and no unholy thought of her has ever entered my mind. _I_
insult her! You boast of your mother's love. You have no love for her of
any sort. You have given her nothing but hard, cold cruelty all her life
under the pretence--perhaps belief--that you were kind; but if your love
were the essence of mother love, it would be as nothing compared to my
man's love for the girl who will one day be my wife and bear my
children."

The frightened old woman shrank from Dic and silently took a chair by
the window. Then Dic turned to the bed, saying:--

"Forgive me, Rita, forgive me. I was almost beside myself for a moment.
Tell me that you know I would not harm you."

"Of course you would do me no harm," she replied sobbing. "You could
not. You would be harming yourself. But how could you speak so violently
to my mother? You were terrible, and I was frightened. How could you?
How could you?"

"I was wild with anger--but I will explain to you some day when you are
my wife. I will not remain in this house. I must not remain, but I will
come to you when you are well. You will write me, and I will come. You
want me, don't you, Rita?"

"As I want nothing else in all the world," she whispered, taking his
face between her hands.

"And you still love me?" he asked.

"Ah," was her only reply; but the monosyllable was eloquent.

Dic at once left the house, but Billy Little remained.

"I never in all my life!" exclaimed Mrs. Bays, rising from her chair.
Billy did not comprehend the exact meaning of her my