and Mr. Royall did not speak again till they reached the
outskirts of the village. Then he let the reins droop on the dashboard
and drew out his watch.

"Charity," he said, "you look fair done up, and North Dormer's a goodish
way off. I've figured out that we'd do better to stop here long enough
for you to get a mouthful of breakfast and then drive down to Creston
and take the train."

She roused herself from her apathetic musing. "The train--what train?"

Mr. Royall, without answering, let the horse jog on till they reached
the door of the first house in the village. "This is old Mrs. Hobart's
place," he said. "She'll give us something hot to drink."

Charity, half unconsciously, found herself getting out of the buggy and
following him in at the open door. They entered a decent kitchen with a
fire crackling in the stove. An old woman with a kindly face was setting
out cups and saucers on the table. She looked up and nodded as they
came in, and Mr. Royall advanced to the stove, clapping his numb hands
together.

"Well, Mrs. Hobart, you got any breakfast for this young lady? You can
see she's cold and hungry."

Mrs. Hobart smiled on Charity and took a tin coffee-pot from the fire.
"My, you do look pretty mean," she said compassionately.

Charity reddened, and sat down at the table. A feeling of complete
passiveness had once more come over her, and she was conscious only of
the pleasant animal sensations of warmth and rest.

Mrs. Hobart put bread and milk on the table, and then went out of the
house: Charity saw her leading the horse away to the barn across the
yard. She did not come back, and Mr. Royall and Charity sat alone at the
table with the smoking coffee between them. He poured out a cup for her,
and put a piece of bread in the saucer, and she began to eat.

As the warmth of the coffee flowed through her veins her thoughts
cleared and she began to feel like a living being again; but the return
to life was so painful that the food choked in her throat and she sat
staring down at the table in silent anguish.

After a while Mr. Royall pushed back his chair. "Now, then," he said,
"if you're a mind to go along----" She did not move, and he continued:
"We can pick up the noon train for Nettleton if you say so."

The words sent the blood rushing to her face, and she raised her
startled eyes to his. He was standing on the other side of the table
looking at her kindly and gravely; and suddenly she understood w