hem,
until they alighted all croaking with terror upon the bed in the
corner.

Then she looked inquiringly around the room. "Why," she cried, "she's
gone; she was settin' here in this rockin'-chair when I went out. She
must have run when she see you comin'!"

Mrs. Sloane hustled through a door, the tattered fringes of her shawl
flying, and then her voice, shrilly expostulating, was heard in the
next room.

The two men waited, standing side by side near the door in a shamed
silence. They did not look at each other.

Presently Mrs. Sloane returned without her shawl. Her old cotton gown
showed tattered and patched, and there were glimpses of her sharp
white elbows at the sleeves. "She won't come out a step," she
announced. "I can't make her. She's takin' on terribly."

William made a stride forward. "I'll go in and see her," he said,
hoarsely; but Mrs. Jim Sloane stood suddenly in his way, her slender
back against the door.

"No, you ain't goin' in," said she, "I told her I wouldn't let you go
in."

William looked at her.

"She's dreadful set against either one of you comin' in, an' I told
her you shouldn't," she said, firmly. She smoothed her wild locks
down tightly over her ears as she spoke. All the coquettish look was
gone.

William turned around, and looked helplessly at Barney, and Barney
looked back at him. Then Barney put on his hat, and shrugged himself
more closely into his great-coat.

"I'll go and get the minister," he said.

Mrs. Sloane thrust her chin out alertly. "Goin' to get her married
right off?" she asked, with a confidential smile.

Barney ignored her. "I guess it's the best way to do," he said,
sternly, to William; and William nodded.

"Well, I guess 'tis the best way," Mrs. Sloane said, with cheerful
assent. "I don't b'lieve you could hire her to come out of that room
an' go to the minister's, nohow. She's terrible upset, poor thing."

As Barney went out of the door he cast a look full of involuntary
suspicion back at William, and hesitated a second on the threshold.
Mrs. Sloane intercepted the look. "I'll look out he don't run away
while you're gone," she said; then she laughed.

William's white face flamed up suddenly, but he made no reply. When
Barney had gone he drew a chair up close to the hearth, and sat
there, bent over, with his elbows on his knees. Mrs. Sloane sat down
on the foot of the bed, close to the door of the other room, as if
she were mounting guard over it. Sh