hank you, your--your family--" he hesitated.

"There's only just Tom--he's my half-brother. My mother was left a widow
when I was a baby. Later, some years after, she married Tom's father."

"Oh--then he's not even your half-brother?"

"He's no relation at all--and much older. When Tom's father died my
mother made Tom, manager, and still later he was appointed my guardian."

"Then you own Belle Plain?" and Carrington sighed.

"Yes. You have never seen it?--it's right on the river, you know?" then
Betty's face grew sober: "Tom's dreadfully queer--I expect he'll require
a lot of managing!"

"I reckon you'll be equal to that!" said-Carrington, convinced of
Betty's all-compelling charm.

"No, I'm not at all certain about Tom--I can see where we shall have
serious differences; but then, I shan't have to struggle single-handed
with him long; a cousin of my mother's is coming to Belle Plain to
make her home with me--she'll make' him behave," and Betty laughed
maliciously. "It's a great nuisance being a girl!"

Then Betty fell to watching for the lights at New Madrid, her elbows
resting on the rail against which she was leaning, and the soft curve
of her chin sunk in the palms of her hands. She wondered absently what
Judith would have said of this river-man. She smiled a little dubiously.
Judith had certainly vindicated the sincerity of her convictions
regarding the importance of family, inasmuch as in marrying Ferris she
had married her own second cousin. She nestled her chin a little closer
in her palms. She remembered that they had differed seriously over Mr.
Yancy's defiance, of the law as it was supposed to be lodged in the
sacred person of Mr. Bladen's agent, the unfortunate Blount. Carrington,
with his back against a stanchion, watched her discontentedly.

"You'll be mighty glad to have this over with, Miss Malroy--" he said at
length, with a comprehensive sweep toward the river.

"Yes--shan't you?" and she opened her eyes questioningly.

"No," said Carrington with a short laugh, drawing a chair near hers and
sitting down.

Betty, in surprise, gave him a quick look, and then as quickly glanced
away from what she encountered in his eyes. Men were accustomed to talk
sentiment to her, but she had hoped--well, she really had thought that
he was, superior to this weakness. She had enjoyed the feeling that here
was some one, big and strong and thoroughly masculine, with whom she
could be friendly without--she took