nd stirred new impulses there. Other influences
had been at work on this neglected region as well, but to these Nannie
did not as yet yield their meed of credit. It is a sad but well-known
fact that the home agencies for regeneration are the last to receive
recognition and gratitude. So it was that while Nannie was dimly
conscious that she owed something to Constance's womanliness, she
refused to dwell upon the beauty and tenderness of Steve's conduct
toward her. His uniform courtesy, gentleness, and forbearance, though
the most powerful factors in her dissatisfaction with self and
embryonic yearnings toward a more conscientious, nobler life, were as
yet utterly ignored by her in actual thought, and had her attention
been called to them, she would probably have denied that she owed
aught of good to their influence. This was discouraging, to be sure,
but one must wait long and patiently for full results. It was enough,
perhaps, for the present that Nannie went about her home trying, in a
blundering way, to bring to pass some changes for the better. With a
deeper insight than she recognized she looked to her table, first of
all. Bridget was not a first-class cook, and her limited repertory
rendered the bill of fare wearisome and monotonous.

Several dishes that Nannie had seen on Constance's table had caught
her eye. A tempting salad was one, and having learned how to make it,
she gave her own table the benefit of this knowledge one evening.

Steve's face lighted with surprise and pleasure the moment the new and
very attractive dish was brought on. He knew it was none of Bridget's
making.

"This must be yours, my dear," he said with a gentle, winning smile.

Now, poor Nannie was terribly awkward about anything that involved a
show of feeling, so instead of taking this as she should have done,
she merely said brusquely:

"I made it."

Then she colored violently, then immediately looked defiant.

But her color and her defiance were both of them so pretty and
engaging that Steve was moved by a rare impulse to go round to her and
kiss her.

Shocking as it may seem, Nannie caught him by the nose with a sudden
fierce motion and held on with grim, unrelenting grasp.

The whole scene occurred in a flash, as it were, and Steve was utterly
unprepared for his own act, and still more so for its consequence.
Impulsiveness with him, however, was unusual and short-lived, and
even under these untoward circumstances he soon rec