ed to keep still and let him
return to the field without seeing her tear-stained face, but Jack roused
with a low whimpering cry which she felt sure Hugh must have heard, and as
soon as the child was asleep she walked out without further effort at
concealment.

At the noise of the opening door Hugh Noland sprang to his feet in
surprise; he had been half-asleep.

"Why, I didn't know that you were here!" he exclaimed when he saw that it
was Elizabeth. "I thought you went to Chamberlain's."

His eyes riveted themselves upon her swollen eyelids, and when she stood
embarrassed before him and did not reply readily, conscious only of his
searching gaze, he misunderstood and added gravely:

"Elizabeth, there is something I must speak about. I cannot have you
worried over matters between us----"

Elizabeth Hunter's eyes ceased to be shy and troubled and came up to his
in such complete astonishment that he broke off in confusion.

There was a pause for one short second, and then Elizabeth spoke in
nervous haste, and as if to ward off something.

"I--I--I wasn't crying about--that is, I hurt Jack accidentally and--and
John misunderstood."

Even while the words were still in her mouth, she realized by his
expression that what she was saying sounded like a complaint, as if she
were exposing a difference between herself and her husband, and that was
the one thing that under no circumstances had she ever done. She made a
frightened stop without ending the sentence.

As if to save his mother from needless embarrassment, Jack slipped to the
floor and came stumbling out on sleepy legs, tired and cross, and rubbing
his sweaty little face with hot, sweaty little fists, and demanding his
mother's attention. Elizabeth turned to him with a relief beyond words.

Hugh Noland, who had always loved the child, was never so glad to see him,
and slipped away while he was being soothed and petted out of his tears
and discomfort. Both Hugh and Elizabeth knew that but for Jack's timely
interruption words would have escaped Hugh that they both preferred should
not be uttered. Both knew the situation, but both saw that it would be
easier, as well as safer and more honourable, not to discuss it.

"I'll not think any more about going away--I wouldn't do it if I had
money," she decided as she watched Hugh return with his jug. "I married
John Hunter in good faith, and I'll live with him in good faith and
straighten things out." The thought of her