l. Then his return to
Durdlebury----

"I'm afraid," she said suddenly, "I was dreadfully unkind to him when
he came home the last time. I didn't understand. Did he tell you?"

Phineas stretched out a hand and with the tips of his fingers touched
her sleeve.

"Mrs. Manningtree," he said softly, "don't you know that Doggie's a
very wonderful gentleman?"

Again her eyes grew moist. "Yes. I know. Of course he never would have
mentioned it.... I thought, Mr. McPhail, he had deteriorated--God
forgive me! I thought he had coarsened and got into the ways of an
ordinary Tommy--and I was snobbish and uncomprehending and horrible.
It seems as if I am making a confession now."

"Ay. Why not? If it were not for the soul's health, the ancient Church
wouldn't have instituted the practice."

She regarded him shrewdly for a second. "You've changed too."

"Maybe," said Phineas. "It's an ill war that blows nobody good. And
I'm not complaining of this one. But you were talking of your
miscomprehension of Doggie."

"I behaved very badly to him," she said, picking again at the
blanket. "I misjudged him altogether--because I was ignorant of
everything--everything that matters in life. But I've learned better
since then."

"Ay," remarked Phineas gravely.

"Mr. McPhail," she said, after a pause, "it wasn't those rotten ideas
that prevented me from marrying him----"

"I know, my dear little lady," said Phineas, grasping the plucking
hand. "You just loved the other man as you never could have loved
Doggie, and there's an end to't. Love just happens. It's the holiest
thing in the world."

She turned her hand, so as to meet his in a mutual clasp, and withdrew
it.

"You're very kind--and sympathetic--and understanding----" Her voice
broke. "I seem to have been going about misjudging everybody and
everything. I'm beginning to see a little bit--a little bit farther--I
can't express myself----"

"Never mind, Mrs. Manningtree," said Phineas soothingly, "if you
cannot express yourself in words. Leave that to the politicians and
the philosophers and the theologians, and other such windy expositors
of the useless. But you can express yourself in deeds."

"How?"

"Find Jeanne for Doggie."

Peggy bent forward with a queer light in her eyes.

"Does she love him--really love him as he deserves to be loved?"

"It is not often, Mrs. Manningtree, that I commit myself to a definite
statement. But, to my certain knowledge, these two are b