eastly outrage! Ever since I came, it's
been nothing but notice of one assessment after another. I won't pay
it! I won't endure it. I'll move!"

Mother let go of me, gripped her hands pretty tight together on the
table, and she began to talk.

"As for freedom--no man ever was, or is, or will be free," she said,
quite as forcibly as he could speak. "You probably knew when you came
here that you would find a land tax-ridden from a great civil war of
years' duration, and from newness of vast territory to be opened up and
improved. You certainly studied the situation."

"'Studied the situation'!" His whip beat across his knee. "'Studied
the situation'! My leaving England was--er--the result of intolerable
conditions there--in the nature of flight from things not to be
endured. I had only a vague idea of the States."

"If England is intolerable, and the United States an outrage, I don't
know where in this world you'll go," said mother softly.

Mr. Pryor stared at her sharply.

"Madame is pleased to be facetious," he said sneeringly.

Mother's hands parted, and one of them stretched across the table
toward him.

"Forgive me!" she cried. "That was unkind. I know you are in dreadful
trouble. I'd give--I'd almost give this right hand to comfort you.
I'd do nearly anything to make you feel that you need bear no burden
alone; that we'd love to help support you."

"I believe you would," he said slowly, his eyes watching her again. "I
believe you would. I wonder why!"

"All men are brothers, in the broader sense," said mother, "and if
you'll forgive me, your face bears marks of suffering almost amounting
to torture."

She stretched out the other hand.

"You couldn't possibly let us help you?"

Slowly he shook his head.

"Think again!" urged mother. "A trouble shared is half over to start
with. You lay a part of it on your neighbours, and your neighbours in
this case would be glad, glad indeed, to see you care-free and happy as
all men should be."

"We'll not discuss it," he said. "You can't possibly imagine the root
of my trouble."

"I shan't try!" said mother. "But let me tell you this: I don't care
if you have betrayed your country, blasphemed your God, or killed your
own child! So long, as you're a living man, daily a picture of
suffering before me, you're a burden on my heart. You're a load on my
shoulders, without your consent. I have implored God, I shall never
cease to implore Him,