s face crimsoned, and she pulled her hand from its kindly
prison.

"Then he has broken his word," she said passionately.

"Steady, my girl. Perhaps you haven't the facts, and you can't think
right till you have, you know."

"He promised he wouldn't talk to Uncle Calvin about me."

"Perhaps he hasn't. You didn't think I was Judge Trent in disguise, did
you?"

"Did he only talk to _you_? Truly, did he?"

"So far as I know. Your uncle telegraphed for me to come to the office,
and I reached there this morning. I suppose Mr. Dunham hadn't promised
not to talk about you to anybody on earth, had he? Your Cousin Jacob is
harmless."

Sylvia looked into the small eyes so luminous with kindness.

"But it was Uncle--Judge Trent who sent for you?"

"Yes, I think he'd somehow got the idea that you didn't care about
seeing him."

"They've been cruel to me. Aunt Martha was--Oh, I mustn't, I can't
speak of it!" The girl's lips pressed together after the vehement
burst.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth," said Cousin
Jacob. The quotation from his lips became a remark. His companion
looked at him in surprise. "I've an idea you're some ways off the
inheritance, Sylvia."

"There's a difference between meekness and servility, I hope," she
returned hotly.

"I hope so," agreed Jacob Johnson equably. "This matter's just like
everything else, little girl. You haven't any call to do anything about
it but just think right."

"Oh," murmured Sylvia impatiently.

"Yes, I know. It takes time, especially if you aren't in practice. That
Mr. Dunham's an honest, manly chap?" He put it as a question.

"Yes, indeed."

"There, then." The visitor nodded. "So far, so good. He told me where
you were."

"And not Uncle Calvin?"

"No, he'd promised not to. A girl who thought she was high-strung,
excited, and mad, made him promise not to."

"Is that the way he described me?"

Cousin Jacob pointed an emphasizing finger. "She's thinking it again.
No, he didn't describe you in just those words. Well, Judge Trent and
Miss Lacey took this business a good deal to heart, after all; and they
sent for me to tell me about things; and as long as Mr. Dunham told me
where you were, I thought I'd take a run to Boston. I'd go many a mile
further to see Laura's child."

"I wish she had told me about you instead of wasting time making me
kiss Uncle Calvin's picture good-night." The scornful tone brought
another smile to her com