reamed better in this past
year than he was willing to acknowledge to her.

But Anthony got up from his chair and
began deliberately backing toward the door.
He seemed suddenly to have became more
awkward and self-conscious. "I read the
law books, as there wasn't anything else to
read. And I was determined to get more
education so that in the future Nan need
not be ashamed of me. Afterwards I
went to night school and----"

"So you have made up your mind to be
a lawyer yourself some day." Betty sighed
with satisfaction. How very like a book
his confession sounded! She wanted to
get more information from her visitor and
yet at the same time longed to rush upstairs
and commence a letter to Polly O'Neill at
once. Wouldn't Polly be interested? For
she had predicted on the day of their first
meeting that the young man would either
turn out to be absolutely no good, or else
(and here Betty blushed, recalling the
prophecy) "Remain your faithful knight to
the end of the chapter."

"But why did you come back to Woodford
if this Mr. Andrews was befriending
you and giving you a chance?" she
inquired, fearing that her illusion might now
be shattered.

The young man did not reply at once.

And he scowled until Betty had an uncomfortable
recollection of the expression which
she had seen on his face the day of his
attack upon Polly and her.

Then after moving a few steps nearer the
fire so that he and the girl were once more
facing each other, Betty could see that
his scowl had been due to embarrassment
and not anger.

"You are awfully good to be willing to
listen to so long a tale of a ne'er-do-well,"
he returned. "I came back to
Woodford because I was determined to
make good in my own town. A fellow that
can't trust himself in the face of
temptations isn't worth being trusted. I'm going
back to Mr. Andrews later, perhaps, but
this winter I am to stick right here in
Woodford and live down my bad name if
I can. Judge Maynard says he will give
me the same kind of a chance that
Mr. Andrews did, if I am worth it. And I
shall be able to see Nan and the others now
and then. It didn't seem fair for me to be
leaving all the family troubles to a girl."

Involuntarily Betty clapped her hands.
She had not intended to express her
emotion openly, but so pleased was she with
Anthony's reply that she couldn't help it.
The next moment she felt a little ashamed
of her enthusiasm.

"Oh, Nan is equal to al