nted to Constance, and the rest kept in a little chiffonier in
her room, to gaze at and kiss many times a day.

Returning from her sewing lesson rather earlier than usual, for she
longed and dreaded to go back to her house, she found Steve awaiting
her.

He was sitting in the little parlor, and his face was flushed and his
eyes strangely bright.

Nannie stood stock-still on the threshold when she saw him.

"Steve," she asked at length, "have you come back to live with me?"

"Yes," he said, and then something impelled him to hold out his arms
to her.

She hesitated, wavered for a moment like some beautiful wild bird that
had strayed from the forest; then she ran to him in headlong fashion.

"Steve!" she fairly cried, "I can't make the words, but you know! you
know!"

Steve folded her in his arms and--the dream came true. In the rapture
of that moment he knew indeed--knew that this strange, untutored child
was the one woman in all the world to satisfy him.

XVI

Time has run on. It is just three years from the morning Steve came
home. He was quite ill for awhile after that, and from his feverish
talk Nannie learned several things. In his convalescence they became
acquainted, and Steve felt that his wife's handy, pretty nursing was
the sweetest experience he had ever known.

Shortly after he was on his feet again Nannie returned from
Constance's, whither she had run of an errand one morning, with a
great distress working on her face.

She entered the study, where Steve sat at his desk writing, and tried
to speak, but words failed her, and she sobbed instead.

Steve went to her quickly, and his gentle face and manner were
eloquent with concern and sympathy.

"Why, my dear, what _has_ happened?"

"It's the little baby! She's been _so_ ill all night! She can't live!"

"Oh, my dear! Oh, that is too sad!" and Steve's face flushed and
quivered.

"You must come right back with me, Steve; they are in such grief."

They went in without pausing to ring and tiptoed their way to
Constance's room. The house was very still.

In response to their soft tap Randolph opened the door. When he saw
Steve he broke into a great sob and laid his head on the shoulder of
the dear friend of olden days.

"Oh, is she gone?" cried Nannie, entering the room.

Constance nodded and turned away, but Nannie burst into uncontrollable
grief as she saw the little white-faced figure lying in t