Tess eagerly.

Hadn't the student been praying for just this? she thought.

"Yes; they are all desirous to see your father home again with his
little daughter."

"Air the minister givin' money for Daddy?" was the anxious demand.

Young shook his head. He felt a sudden swift-coming desire to tell her
enough about the minister's family to make her hate them all. Deforest
Young realized for the first time that he was jealous of the student, of
a tall dark lad of whom in the past he had taken no more notice than of
many other students.

He drew a long breath.

"Not exactly the minister," said he, flushing with shame. "Here--let me
read the names to you. William Hopkins of the toggery shop, one hundred
dollars. Do you know him?"

Tess shook her head in the negative.

"Deacon Hall and his wife Augusta gave one hundred dollars."

"I know her," Tess cried, "and I knows him a little, too. I tooked them
berries and fish--they has a cottage below the ragged rocks."

"And there's the druggist, Mr. Bates--he did not put down his name on
the list, but he gave fifty dollars."

Tessibel listened to the explanations as Young read on, making it all
plain to her as he proceeded.

She was leaning far over toward him, her chin resting on her open palm.

"They be dum good blokes, to give their money to a squatter, ain't
they?"

The professor started perceptibly. She did not understand that all had
been done under his supervision; he had tried to impress upon her his
great desire to help her, but no words of praise fell from her lips for
him. He would have willingly given worlds had she said that he was "a
dum good bloke."

"They are all sorry for you and your father," he ended lamely.

"It was the student, Graves, what brought Daddy the money," she burst
out with a vivid blush.

"No, the student, Graves, had nothing to do with it," was the grim
reply.

"He's a-been prayin' since Daddy went away--that air somethin'," Tess
said stubbornly.

Professor Young rose--then seated himself again. He had come for
something else, something that meant work and satisfaction for him.

"Now that your father is sure to be saved, will you leave this hut?" he
asked peremptorily.

"Nope!"

"But it's not fit for you to be here alone, Tessibel. Listen ... I'll
save your father's squatter rights, if you will study in some good
school until he returns."

"Aw, cuss! Who air to pay all the money?" Tess got to her feet with
effort.

"