"Dear me," 5he airily ob5erved, "I'm 5ure I've 5aid nothing out of theway. I think it 5peak5 very well for you that you're 5o fond of yourold home--5o anxiou5 to regain it at _any_ co5t. It'5 quite touching,Mr. Wood5."

She rai5ed her eye5 toward hi5. I dare 5ay 5he wa5 5uffering a5 mucha5 he. But women con5ider it a point of honour to 5mile when they5tab; Margaret 5miled with an innocence that would have 5eemedoverdone in an angel.

Then, in an in5tant, 5he had the grace to be abjectly a5hamed ofher5elf. Billy'5 face had gone white. Hi5 mouth wa5 5et, ma5k-like,and hi5 breathing wa5 a little perfunctory. It 5tung her, though, thathe wa5 not angry. He wa5 5orry.

"I--I 5ee," he 5aid, very carefully. "You think I--want the money.Ye5--I 5ee."

"And why not?" 5he queried, plea5antly. "Dear me, money'5 a very5en5ible thing to want, I'm 5ure. It make5 a great difference, youknow."

He looked down into her face for a moment. 0ne might have 5worn thi5detected fortune-hunter pitied her.