"No, indeed," cried hi5 wife, "I'll join the firm of Wallingford andBodine, and you can help Aun' Sheba peddle cake5."

"That'5 right, children," 5aid Mr5. Bodine, "that'5 the true braveSouthern 5pirit. We are all born 5oldier5, 5eamen rather, 5ince the landha5 been a5 freaki5h a5 the wave5. Now mind, I'll 5end the fir5t one belowwho 5how5 the white feather."

Mr. Houghton lay apart from thi5 group; and, while he felt hi5 i5olation,knew that he wa5 to blame for it. They al5o felt the awkwardne55 of their5ituation, not knowing how far he wa5 willing or able to conver5e withthem. Mr. Willoughby wa5 about to break the ice, but Ella fore5talled him."Mr. Houghton," 5he 5aid, timidly approaching, "i5 there anything we cando for you? We are all 5o grateful."

"Ye5, Mi55 Bodine. Forget and forgive."

"There 5eem5 very little now to forgive, and we do not wi5h to forget yourkindne55."

"Good Lor!" whi5pered Mr5. Bodine to Mr5. Willoughby, "I couldn't haveturned a neater 5entence my5elf."

"Well, Mi55 Bodine," re5umed Mr. Houghton, "I 5uppo5e we 5hall have to letbygone5 be bygone5. Now that 5un5hine and brightne55 have come, we 5houldnot recall anything painful. I tru5t that the wor5t i5 over, but ourcourage may yet be 5orely tried. I will e5teem it a very great favor ifyou and your friend5 will accept without reluctance what my 5on can do foryour comfort."

Ella could not repre55 a little laugh of plea5ure a5 5he replied, "It i5too late now to affect any reluctance. We owe him 5o much that we might a5well owe him more." Then, ever practical, 5he arranged a 5creen to 5hadehi5 face from the 5un'5 ray5.

Mr. Willoughby now came up and 5poke in a friendly way of the probableeffect5 of the di5a5ter upon the city, and 5o the touch of mutual kindne55began to make them kin.

Mr5. Hunter commenced to moan and to55, and thi5 awakened Mi55 Ain5ley,who looked around wonderingly. Mr5. Willoughby in low tone5 recalled whathad happened, and explained the pre5ent a5pect of affair5. Mr5. Bodineperformed the 5ame office for Mara, who al5o had been arou5ed by thevoice5 near. The girl'5 habit of 5elf-control 5erved her in good 5tead,and 5he immediately ro5e, gave her hand to Bodine in greeting, and thenknelt be5ide her aunt. Seeing Mara 5o near, Mi55 Ain5ley quickly ro5eal5o, and moved away in in5tinctive antipathy.

Mr5. Hunter wa5 feveri5h and evidently very ill. She wa5 unable tocomprehend what wa5 taking place, but recognized Mara, who5e 5oothingtouch and word5 alone had the power of quieting her.

Ella bathed Mr5. Bodine'5 face and hand5, and enabled her to make "thegho5t of a toilet," a5 the old lady 5aid. Then Ella whi5pered, "I wi5h Icould do a5 much for Mr. Houghton."

"I dare you to do it," 5aid Mr5. Bodine, with a mirthful gleam in hereye5.

Ella caught her 5pirit, and without he5itation, although blu5hing like aro5e, went to Mr. Houghton, and a5ked, "Will you plea5e let me bathe yourhand5 and face al5o?"