and Kate was wise enough to pretend that she
was satisfied to leave the matter in Fred's hands.

She thought it best, however, to add a postscript to her letter,
saying that she feared for Jack's safety, as the authorities had begun
to be very inquisitive and hard to put off; but that she would do all
in her power to protect the poor boy. She did not feel that it would
be wise to write Fred, because the professor would think she was
working against him and would be angry. Besides, she knew that it
would be of no use to write Fred. He would do as he pleased anyway; he
always did.

In the face of a keen wind the professor started down the mountain to
leave the letters at Marston with the agent, who was very obliging and
would see that they were put on the "down" train that evening.

Marion did not see any sense in his going away that day, and she told
Kate so very bluntly. With the professor gone she could not meet Jack
and have those broiled bear steaks, because some one had to stay with
Kate. When Kate suggested that she have Jack come to the cabin with
his bear steaks, she discovered that she could not do that either. She
was afraid to tell Jack that Kate knew. Of course, it was all
right--Kate had promised faithfully never to tell; but Jack was
awfully queer, lately, and the least little thing offended him. He
would refuse to see that it was the best to take Kate into the secret,
because it gave Marion more freedom to do things for his comfort. He
would consider that she had been tattling secrets just because she
could not hold her tongue, and she resented in advance his attitude.
Guiltily conscious of having betrayed him, she still believed that she
had done him a real service in the betrayal.

It was a complicated and uncomfortable state of mind to be in, and
Kate's state of mind was not much more complacent. She also had broken
a promise and betrayed a trust, and she also believed she had done it
for the good of the betrayed. To their discomforting sense of guilt
was added Marion's disappointment at not meeting Jack, and Kate's
sprained ankle, which was as swollen and painful as a sprained ankle
usually is. They began by arguing, they continued by reminding each
other of past slights and injuries, they ended by speaking plain
truths that were unpalatable chiefly because they were true. When the
professor tramped home at sundown he walked into an atmosphere of icy
silence. Kate and Marion were not on speaking te