ry and lifeless, the buds come once more. But I knew
it must not be, and I fought against it; and I went to Thor's Stone
for that reason, and for none other."

"A likely tale," sneered Jonas.

"Yes, Bideabout, it is a likely tale; it is the only tale at all
likely concerning an honest heart such as mine. If there be truth
and uprightness in you, you will believe me. That I have gone
through a great fight I do not deny. That I have been driven almost
to despair, is also true. That I have cried out for help--that you
know, for you heard me, and I was heard."

"Yes--in that a lump of lead was sent into my shoulder."

"No, Jonas, in that this little innocent was given to my arms. You
need doubt me no more: you need fear for me and yourself no longer.
I have no mistrust in myself at all now that I have this." Lovingly,
with full eyes, the mother held up the child, then clasped it to
her bosom, and covered the little head and tiny hands with kisses.

"What has that to do with all that has been between us?" asked
Bideabout, sneeringly.

"It has everything to do," answered Mehetabel. "It is a little
physician to heal all our wounds with its gentle hand. It is a
tiny sower to strew love and the seeds of happiness in our united
lives. It is a little herald angel that appears to announce to us
peace and goodwill."

"I dun know," muttered Jonas. "It don't seem like to be any of
that."

"You have not looked in the little face, felt the little hands,
as I have. Why, if I had any ache and pain, those wee fingers
would with their touch drive all away. But indeed, Jonas, since
it came I have had no ache, no pain at all. All looks to me like
sunshine and sweet summer weather. Do you know what mother said to
me, many months ago, when first I told her what I was expecting?"

"Dun know that I care to hear."

"She gave me a cookery book, and she said to me that when the
little golden beam shone into this dark house it would fill it
with light, and that, with the baby and me--cooking you nice
things to eat, as wouldn't cost much, but still nice, then all
would be right and happy, and after all--Paradise, Jonas."

"It seems to me as Sanna Verstage knows nuthin about it."

"Jonas," pleaded Mehetabel, "give the little one a kiss. Take it
in your arms."

He turned away.

"Jonas," she said, in a tone of discouragement, after a pause, and
after having held out the child to him in vain, and then taken it
back to her bosom, "what