the fire has been kindled," said the
woman in a voice that fell to a whisper.

"Then your thought is wrong--all wrong! And wrong thought just _can't_
be externalized to me, for I know that 'There shall no mischief happen
to the righteous,' that is, to the right-thinking. And I think
right."

"I'm sure you do, child." The Beaubien got up and walked slowly around
the room, as if to summon her strength. Then she returned to her
chair.

"I'm going to tell you," she said firmly. "You are right, and I have
been wrong. It concerns you. And you have help that I have not. I--I
have lost a great deal of money."

Carmen laughed in relief. "Well, dear me! that's nothing."

The Beaubien smiled sadly. "I agree with you. Mr. Ames may have my
money. I have discovered in the past few months that there are better
things in life. But--" her lips tightened, and her eyes half
closed--"he can _not_ have you!"

"Oh! He wants _me_?"

"Yes. Listen, child: I know not why it is, but you awaken something in
every life into which you come. The woman I was a year ago and the
woman I am to-day meet almost as strangers now. Why? The only answer I
can give is, you. I don't know what you did to people in South
America; I can only surmise. Yet of this I am certain, wherever you
went you made a path of light. But the effect you have on people
differs with differing natures. Just why this is, I do not know. It
must have something to do with those mental laws of which I am so
ignorant, and of which you know so much."

Carmen looked at her in wondering anticipation. The Beaubien smiled
down into the face upturned so lovingly, and went on:

"From what you have told me about your priest, Jose, I know that you
were the light of his life. He loved you to the complete obliteration
of every other interest. You have not said so; but I know it. How,
indeed, could it be otherwise? On the other hand, that heartless
Diego--his mad desire to get possession of you was only animal. Why
should you, a child of heaven, arouse such opposite sentiments?"

"Dearest," said the girl, laying her head on the woman's knees, "that
isn't what's worrying you."

"No--but I think of it so often. And, as for me, you have turned me
inside-out."

Carmen laughed again merrily. "Well, I think this side wears better,
don't you?"

"It is softer--it may not," returned the woman gently. "But I have no
desire to change back." She bent and kissed the brown hair. "Mr. Ames
and I