ing eager.

"How splendid!" she exclaimed. "Then we will go and get me the very
simplest things I can get along with and we'll keep account of every
cent and I will pay it all back to you. Do you know I think this bed of
yours is full of courage? At any rate, when I waked up this morning I
found all my hopefulness had come back. I feel that I am going to make
my living and not be a burden on anyone. It's wonderful to feel that
way!"

"Of course you are, child." Miss Upton patted the hand that grasped
hers. "But first off, you'll have to help me move. I've got a lot o'
packin' to do, you understand. I'm movin' my shop to Keefeport. I always
do summers."

For answer Geraldine, who had been leaning on her elbow, sat up quickly,
evidently with every intention of rising.

"Get back there," laughed Miss Mehitable. "Your clothes ain't ironed
yet. I'll move the apple blossoms up side of you--"

"Don't, please," said Geraldine, as she lay down reluctantly. "I think
I'd rather they would keep their distance--like their owner."

"Now, child," said Miss Mehitable coaxingly. "Mrs. Barry's one o' the
grandest women in the world. I felt pretty hot myself yesterday--I might
as well own it--but that'll all smooth over. She didn't mean a thing
except that she was surprised."

"We can't blame her for that," returned Geraldine, "but--but--I'm sorry
he brought the flowers. I wonder if you couldn't make him
understand--very kindly, you know, Miss Upton, that I want to be--just
to be forgotten."

Miss Upton pursed her lips and her eyes laughed down into the earnest
face. "I'm afraid, child, I don't know any language that could make him
understand that."

Geraldine did not smile. She felt that in those intense hours of
yesterday, freed from every convention of earth, they two had lived a
lifetime. She would rather dwell on its memory henceforth than run the
risk of any more shocks. Peace and forgetfulness. That is what she felt
she needed from now on.

"He said he was goin' on another kidnappin' errand now," remarked Miss
Upton.

The girl looked up quickly from her introspection. A startled look
sprang into her eyes and she sat up in bed.

"Oh, Miss Upton, you know him!" she exclaimed, gazing at her friend.
"Does he keep solemn promises?"

"I'm sure he does, child. What's the matter now?"

"He promised me--oh, he promised me, he wouldn't go back to that farm
alone." The girl's eyes filled with tears that overflowed on her
s