r, on
the ways at the shipyard over the river, and how, at the ax-stroke, as
she slid down and out across the water, Willy broke the bottle on the
bow and christened the boat 'King William.'"

"Just so," came up in the Captain's voice.

The moon was rising slowly.

"There's some one at the gate," cried Willy.

"It's for me," said Alexina, starting up; "it's Nelly and she's
hunting me."

Later, Nelly, leading her across the street, was saying, "I don't
believe Miss Harriet is going to like it when she knows where you've
been."

"Why?"

But Nelly couldn't say; "except that they're the only ladies on the
street not knowing each other," she explained.

The two went in. Alexina dropped Nelly's hand and walked into the
parlour and across to Harriet's knee. Austen sat reading on the other
side of the table.

"I've been over to a boy's house," said Alexina; "his name is King
William and their other name is Leroy."

Harriet held the cambric strip of embroidery from her and viewed it.
"Austen," she asked, "is Alexina to play indiscriminately with the
children on the square?"

Austen looked across at his sister. "It is within your authority to
decide," he returned, "but I know of no reason why she should not."

Harriet made no response. Outwardly she was concerned with some
directions to Nelly, waiting to take the child to bed, but inwardly
she was wondering if Austen ever could have cared for this Charlotte
Ransome.

He sat long after Harriet had gone. Then, rising abruptly, he went out
the front door and walked to the corner of the house. It was dark in
the coachman's room above the stable, and the master could go to bed
secure that his oil was not being wasted.

That was all, yet he did not go in. The night was perfect, full of
moonlight and the scent of earth and growing things. It was so still
the houses along the street seemed asleep.

Almost furtively, the gaze of Austen lifted to the cottage, dark and
silent across the way. He had been the one who would not forgive; the
other had been only an impetuous girl.

He stood there long. Perhaps his face was colder, his lips pressed to
a thinner line; perhaps it was the moonlight. Then he turned and went
into the house.

CHAPTER SIX

Alexina came to Harriet with information.

"Emily goes to school to her aunt, and King William goes there, too."

"Do they?" returned Harriet. Her interest was good-humoured rather
than ardent.

"I'd like to go,