iss Lacey knew from the etiquette column in "The Ladies' Friend"
that it was _de rigueur_ to allow a gentleman caller to take care of
his own hat, but, as she reflected in a lightning flash, that authority
on manners and morals in "The Ladies' Friend" had never met Judge
Trent. The reluctance with which he now yielded up his boon companion
vindicated her lack of confidence. She deposited it on the hall table.

"Step right in, Calvin," she went on. "I hardly know how to wait for
your news. I'll light the lamp in an instant." She proceeded to do so,
conscious of a fleeting wish that the visitor would note the brightness
of the chimney and clearness of the flame, and read a lesson to Hannah.
She breathed a sigh as she realized the hopelessness of the aspiration.

The judge was standing, waiting in silence for her to be seated. No
movement or expression showed that the objects about him bore different
associations from those connected with his office furniture, and if she
took her seat on the haircloth sofa with an idea that he would join her
she was disappointed. He parted his coat-tails and perched upon a
straight-backed structure of mahogany, usually avoided by every caller.

"Well, Martha, I haven't much to tell. She's very pretty."

"I told you so, Calvin. I told you that was the trouble."

"Precisely. In addition I must say she has very little use for us,--for
you and me."

Miss Lacey shook her head mournfully. "How did she treat you? Did she
flash up and snap her eyes?"

"No, she shut them with a sort of a take-it-away expression."

"But she is safe now, isn't she? You will let her stay at the farm,
won't you?"

"Yes, of course," returned the judge.

"Does she look so ill and pitiful?"

"No, she's picking up. She seems perfectly contented under Thinkright's
wing."

"You don't know what that means," returned Miss Martha fervently.
"After that dreadful talk about the stage, and marrying actors, I
didn't know as she'd be willing to stay in the country with a plain man
like Thinkright."

"She doesn't think he's plain. She considers him a mixture of Adonis
and Solomon."

"Very well. Whatever _you_ may see fit to do, Calvin, _I_ shall thank
God on my bended knees," declared Miss Martha devoutly. "To think that
her immortal soul isn't lost and our two families disgraced through
our--_own_--_fault_, is a blessing we don't either of us deserve."

"Rub it in, Martha, rub it in," returned the judge.

"No, I'