task before her.
Yet when she spoke, her voice was low and sweet and its tones even. She
gave no sign to the man whose heavy form rested in her arms.

"Then from today we must begin to cut out every word of slang--it's a
bargain?"

"Sure, Mike--I promised!"

"Cut `Sure Mike!'"

She raised her finger severely.

"All right, teacher," he drawled. "What'll we put in Sure Mike's place?
I've found him a handy man!"

"Say `certainly.'"

Jim grinned good-naturedly.

"Aw hell, Kiddo--that sounds punk!"

"And HELL, Jim, isn't a nice word----"

"Gee, Kid, now look here--can't get along with out HELL--leave me that
one just a little while."

She shook her head.

"No."

"No?"

"And PUNK is expressive, but not suited to parlor use."

"All right--t'ell with PUNK!" He turned and looked. "What's the matter
now?" he asked.

"Don't you realize what you've just said?"

"What did I say?"

She turned away to hide a tear.

He threw his arms around her neck and drew her lips down to his.

"Ah, don't worry, Kiddo--I'll do better next time. Honest to God, I
will. That's enough for today. Just let's love now. T'ell with the
rest."

She smiled in answer.

"You promise to try honestly?"

He raised his hand in solemn vow.

"S'help me!"

Each day's trial ended in a laugh and a kiss until at last Jim refused
to promise any more. He grinned in obstinate, good-natured silence and
let her do the worrying.

She watched him with growing wonder and alarm. He gradually lapsed into
little coarse, ugly habits at the table. She tried playfully to
correct them. He took it good-naturedly at first and then ignored her
suggestions as if she were a kitten complaining at his feet.

She studied him with baffling rage at the mystery of his personality.
The long silences between them grew from hour to hour. She could see
that he was restless now at the isolation of their sand-island home. The
queer lights and shadows that played in his cold blue eyes told only
too plainly that his mind was back again in the world of battle. He was
fighting something, too.

She was glad of it. She could manage him better there. She would
throw him into the company of educated people and rouse his pride and
ambition. She heard his announcement of their departure on the eighth
day with positive joy.

"Well, Kiddo," he began briskly, "we've got to be moving. Time to get
back to work now. The old town and the little shop down in Avenue B have
been