ch sobbed? How turn from life when she saw
life suffering? Why she could not even turn from a little bird which she
saw suffering!

There was a noble wistfulness in her longing to talk again with the man
who mended the boats.

CHAPTER XXIII

In temporary relaxation from the stress of that mood she was glad to see
her friend Major Darrett.

He did not suggest the woe of the world. Because the big new things had
become--for the moment, at least--too much for her, there was rest in the
shelter of the small familiar things.

So much of the unknown had been beating against her that she was glad for
a little laughing respite in the known.

He stood for a world she knew how to deal with. In that he seemed to
offer shelter; not that he would be able to do it for long.

He always roused a particular imp in Katie which wanted to be
flirtatious. She found now, with a certain relief, that the grave things
of life had not exterminated that imp. She would scarcely have felt
acquainted with herself had it perished.

And because she was so pleased to find it alive she let it grow very
live indeed.

Ann and Worth had been gone for five days. Ann had seemed to like the
idea of going. She said she would be glad to be alone for a time and
"rest up," as she vaguely put it. Katie told her that when she came back
they would make some plans; and she told her she was not to worry about
things; that everything was going to be all right.

Ann received it with childlike trust. She seemed to think that it was
all in Katie's hands, to accept with a child's literalness that Katie
would not let the old things come back, that she would "shut the door in
their face."

Other things were in Katie's hands that day: preparations for a big
dinner they were giving that night.

It was for some cavalry people who were stopping there. And in addition
to the cavalry officers and their wives there was a staff officer from
Washington who was valuable to Wayne just then. Katie was anxious that
the dinner be a success. She was glad Major Darrett was there. He went a
long way toward assuring its success.

And Zelda Fraser was with the party. Katie had seen her for a moment that
morning, and would see her again at night. She was stopping with Caroline
Osborne, whom she had known at school.

Zelda did not suggest the woe of the world. Neither did she suggest the
dreams of the world.

It was early in the afternoon and the Major and Katie were