my wife, then it may be that she will bestow on me the blessing of a
child--a boy who will one day stand among men as his father never can
again, who will possess the full rights of citizenship; in him I may
live again as a man--but only so."

"Please God it may be so."

* * * * *

They walked slowly homewards to The Bow in the clear warm dark of the
midsummer-night. They had much to say to each other, and often they
lingered on the way. They lingered again when they came to the gate by
the paddock in the lane.

Aileen looked towards the house. A light was burning in Mrs. Champney's
room.

"I'm afraid Mrs. Champney must be much worse. Tave never would have
forgotten me if he hadn't received some telephone message while he was
at Father Honore's. But the nurse said there was nothing I could do when
I left with Tave--but oh, I'm so glad he didn't stop! I _must_ go in
now, Champney," she said decidedly. But he still held her two hands.

"Tell me, Champney, have you ever thought your aunt might remember
you--for the wrong she did you?"

"No; and if she should, I never would take a cent of it."

"Oh, I'm so glad--so glad!" She squeezed both his hands right hard.

He read her thought and smiled to himself; he was glad that in this he
had not disappointed her.

"But there's one thing I wish she would do--poor--_poor_ Aunt Meda--" he
glanced up at the light in the window.

"Yes, 'poor,' Champney--I know." She was nodding emphatically.

"I wish she would leave enough to Mr. Van Ostend to repay with interest
what he repaid for me to the Company; it would be only just, for, work
as I may, I can never hope to do that--and I long so to do it--no
workman could do it--"

She interrupted gayly: "Oh, but you've a working-woman by your side!"
She snatched away her small hands--for she belonged to the small people
of the earth. "See, Champney, the two hands! I can work, and I'm not
afraid of it. I can earn a lot to help with--and I shall. There's my
cooking, and singing, and embroidery--"

He smiled again in the dark at her enthusiasm--it was so like her!

"And I'll lift the care from our mother too,--and you're not to fret
your dear soul about the Van Ostend money--if one can't do it, surely
two can with God's blessing. Now I _must_ go in--and you may give me
another kiss for I've been on starvation diet these last seven
years--only one--oh, Champney!"...

* * *