that cussed cow and kindling-wood I really don't know. Mrs. Brown
suggested we'd better take in another homeless boy, and I guess that's
what we'll do."

A couple of nights later, while Bradley was sitting before his trunk,
which he had begun to pack like the inexperienced traveller he was,
several days in advance, Mrs. Brown came to the stairway to tell him
Nettie was below and wanted to see him.

The poor girl had just heard that he was going away and she met him
with a white, scared face. He sat down without speaking, for he had no
defence, except silence, for things of that nature. The girl's fury of
grief appalled him. She came over and flung herself sobbing upon his
lap, her arms about his neck.

"Oh, Brad! Is it true? Are you going away?"

"I expect to," he replied coldly.

"You mustn't! You sha'n't! I won't let you!" she cried, tightening her
arms about him, as if that would detain him. From that on, there was
nothing but sobs on her side, and explanations on his--explanations to
which her love, direct and selfish, would not listen for a moment. The
unreserve and unreason of her passion at last disgusted him. His tone
grew sharper.

"I can't stay here," he said. "You've no business to ask me to. I can't
always be a lawyer's hack. I want to study and go higher. I've got to
leave this town, if I ever amount to anything in the world."

"Then take me with you!" she cried.

"I can't do that! I can't any more'n make a livin' for myself. Besides,
I've got to study."

"I'll make father give you some money," she said.

He closed his lips sternly, and said nothing further. Her agony wore
itself out after a time, and she was content to sit up and look at him
and listen to him at last while he explained. And her suppressed sobs
and the tears that stood in her big childish eyes moved him more than
her unrestrained sorrow. It was thus she conquered him.

He promised her he would come home often, and he promised to write
every day, and by implication, though not in words, he promised to
marry her--that is to say, he acquiesced in her plans for housekeeping
when he returned and was established in the office. He ended it all by
walking home with her and promising to see her every day before he
went, and as he kissed her good-night at the gate, she was smiling
again and quite happy, although a little catching of the breath (even
in her laughter) showed that she was not yet out of the ground-swell of
her emotion.