oge; how could I?"

"Indeed, I think it is the other way round; if I remember rightly you
gave me the opportunity of never forgetting you." He held her hand just
a trifle longer than was necessary. The girl smiled and withdrew it.

"Milky hands are not so sticky as spruce gum ones, Mr. Googe, but they
are apt to be quite as unpleasant."

Champney was annoyed without in the least knowing why. He was wondering
if he should address her as "Aileen" or "Miss Armagh," when Octavius
spoke:

"Aileen, just go on ahead up to the house and tell Mrs. Champney Mr.
Googe is here." Aileen went at once, and Octavius explained.

"You see, Champney--Mr. Googe--"

"Have I changed so much, Tave, that you can't use the old name?"

"You've changed a sight; it don't come easy to call you Champ, any more
than it did to call Mr. Louis by his Christian name. You look a Champney
every inch of you, and you act like one." He spoke emphatically; his
small keen eyes dwelt admiringly on the face and figure of the tall man
before him. "I thought 't was better to send Aileen on ahead, for Mrs.
Champney's broken a good deal since you saw her; she can't stand much
excitement--and you're the living image." He called for the boy who had
taken Romanzo's place. "I'll go up as far as the house with you. How
long are you going to stay?"

"It depends upon how long it takes me to investigate these quarries,
learn the ropes. A week or two possibly. I am to be treasurer of the
Company with my office in New York."

"So I heard, so I heard. I'm glad it's come at last--no thanks to
_her_," he added, nodding in the direction of the house.

"Do you still hold a grudge, Tave?"

"Yes, and always shall. Right's right and wrong's wrong, and there ain't
a carpenter in this world that can dovetail the two. You and your mother
have been cheated out of your rights in what should be yours, and it's
ten to one if you ever get a penny of it."

Champney smiled at the little man's indignation. "All the more reason to
congratulate me on my job, Tave."

"Well, I do; only it don't set well, this other business. She ain't
helped you any to it?" He asked half hesitatingly.

"Not a red cent, Tave. I don't owe her anything. Possibly she will leave
some of it to this same Miss Aileen Armagh. Stranger things have
happened." Octavius shook his head.

"Don't you believe it, Champney. She likes Aileen and well she may, but
she don't like her well enough to give her a slice off