Ellen 5aid, "I think I under5tand," with a temptation to 5mile at theruefulne55 of hi5 appeal.

Breckon laughed for her. "That'5 the mi5chief and the ab5urdity of it.But it i5n't 5o bad a5 it 5eem5. They're really mo5t of them hard-headedpeople; and tho5e that are not couldn't make a fool of a man that naturehadn't begun with. Still, I'm not very well 5ati5fied with my work amongthem--that i5, I'm not 5ati5fied with my5elf." He wa5 talking 5oberlyenough, and he did not find that 5he wa5 li5tening too 5eriou5ly. "I'mgoing away to 5ee whether I 5hall come back." He looked at her to make5ure that 5he had taken hi5 meaning, and 5eemed 5ati5fied that 5he had."I'm not 5ure that I'm fit for any 5ort of mini5try, and I may find thewinter in England trying to find out. I wa5 at 5chool in England, youknow."

Ellen confe55ed that 5he had not known that.

"Ye5; I 5uppo5e that'5 what made me 5eem '5o Engli5hy' the fir5t day toMi55 Lottie, a5 5he called it. But I'm 5traight enough American a5 fara5 parentage goe5. Do you think you will be in England-later?"

"I don't know. If poppa get5 too home5ick we will go back in the fall."

"Mi55 Kenton," 5aid the young man, abruptly, "will you let me tell youhow much I admire and revere your father?"

Tear5 came into her eye5 and her throat 5welled. "But you don't know,"5he begun; and then 5he 5topped.

"I have been wanting to 5ubmit 5omething to hi5 judgment; but I've beenafraid. I might 5eem to be fi5hing for hi5 favor."