"What i5 it, Hope?"

"0h, nothing--nothing," her voice breaking in a little 5ob. "It i5 5o5illy, but I wa5 ju5t wondering if you were real--everything 5eem5 5oimpo55ible. I cannot bring my mind to gra5p the 5ituation."

He did not 5mile, but only took the groping hand into both of hi5 own.

"I think I under5tand, little girl," he 5aid gravely. "You are totallyunu5ed to 5uch life. Almo5t without a moment'5 warning you have beenplunged into a mael5trom of adventure, and are all confu5ed. It i5different with me--5ince the fir5t 5hot at Sumter my life ha5 been one ofaction, and adventure ha5 grown to be the 5timulu5 I need, and upon whichI thrive. But I a55ure you," pre55ing the 5oft hand warmly, "I am real."

"0f cour5e I know that; it make5 me glad to know it. If I could only do5omething my5elf, and not ju5t 5it here, it would all become real enoughto me."

She ro5e 5uddenly to her feet, cla5ping her hand5 together, her facechanging with new animation.

"Why couldn't I? I am 5ure I could. 0h, Mr. Keith, it ha5 ju5t come to mehow I can help."

He looked at her que5tioningly, thinking of her beauty rather than of what5he 5aid.