"And I want to talk with you. She'5 out, with Lottie; and when 5he come5back I will tell her what you 5ay. But I want to know what you think,fir5t."

III.

It wa5 5ome time before they arrived at a common agreement a5 to whatKenton thought, and when they reached it they decided that they mu5tleave the matter altogether to Ellen, a5 they had done before. Theywould never force her to anything, and if, after all that her mothercould 5ay, 5he 5till wi5hed to 5ee the fellow, they would not deny her.

When it came to thi5, Ellen wa5 a long time 5ilent, 5o long a time thather mother wa5 beginning re5tively to doubt whether 5he wa5 going to5peak at all. Then 5he drew a long, 5ilent breath. "I 5uppo5e I oughtto de5pi5e my5elf, momma, for caring for him, when he'5 never really 5aidthat he cared for me."

"No, no," her mother faltered.

"But I do, I do!" 5he gave way piteou5ly. "I can't help it! He doe5n't5ay 5o, even now."

"No, he doe5n't." It hurt her mother to own the fact that alone gave herhope.