r, her eyes following him, the
love-light still radiating from her every feature, till he was carried
beyond sight around the curving base of the Flamsted Hills.

She heard nothing more externally, saw nothing more, until she found
herself at The Corners instead of The Bow. The tumult within her
rendered her deaf to the clanging of the electric gong, blind to the
people who had entered along Main Street. Love, and love alone, was
ringing its joy-bells in her soul till external sounds grew muffled,
indistinct; until she became unaware of her surroundings. Love was
knocking so loudly at her heart that the bounding blood pulsed rhythmic
in her ears. Love was claiming her wholly, possessing her soul and
body--but no longer that idealizing love of her young girlhood and
womanhood. Rather it was that love which is akin to the divine rapture
of maternity--the love that gives all, that sacrifices all, which
demands nothing of the loved one save to love, to shield, to
comfort--the love that makes of a true woman's breast not only a rest
whereon a man, as well as his babe, may pillow a weary head, but a round
tower of strength within which there beats a heart of high courage for
him who goes forth to the daily battlefield of Life.

She rode back to The Bow. Hannah called to her from the kitchen door
when she saw her coming up the driveway:

"Come round here a minute, Aileen."

"What is it, Hannah?" Her voice trembled in spite of her effort to speak
naturally. She prayed Hannah might not notice.

"Here's a little broth I've made for Uncle Jo Quimber. I heard he wasn't
very well, and I wish you'd take this down to him before supper. Tell
him it won't hurt him and it's real strengthenin'."

"I will go now, and--Hannah, don't mind if I don't come home to supper
to-night; I'm not hungry; it's too hot to eat. If I want anything, I'll
get a glass of milk in the pantry afterwards. If Mrs. Champney should
want me, tell Octavius he'll find me down by the boat house."

"Mis' Champney ain't so well, to-night, the nurse says. I guess it's
this heat is telling on her."

"I should think it would--even I feel it." She was off again down the
driveway, glad to be moving, for a strange restlessness was upon her.

She found Joel Quimber sitting in his arm chair on the back porch of the
little house belonging to his grand-niece. The old man looked feeble,
exhausted and white; but his eyes brightened on seeing Aileen come round
the corner of