oft, quick steps. He
looked at her. "I want to talk," he said.

"In a minute," she replied. She nodded toward the cellar. "The lantern's
down there--you go along."

He opened the door and stepped cautiously into blackness, and she heard
a quick, scratching match on the plaster behind the closed door, and his
feet descending the stairs.

She drew forward the kettle on the stove and replenished the fire, and
blew out the hand lamp on the table. Then she groped her way to the
cellar door, opening it with noiseless touch.

The young man waited below, impatient. On a huge barrel near by, the
lantern cast a yellow circle on the blackness.

The woman approached it, her high-stepping figure flung in shadowy
movement along the wall behind her.

"You can't back out _now_!" He spoke quickly. "You're weakening! And
you've got to brace up--do you hear?"

The woman's round face smiled--over the light on the barrel. "_I'm_ all
right," she said. She hesitated a minute.... "It's the child that's
not all right," she added slowly. "And tonight I got scared--yes--" She
waited a breath.

"What's the matter?" he said roughly.

She waited again. "She wasn't like flesh and blood to-night," she said
slowly. "I felt as if a breath would blow her out--" She drew her hand
quickly across her eyes. "I've got fond of the little thing, John--I
can't seem to have her hurt!"

"Who's hurting her?" said the man sharply. "_You_ take care of her--and
she's all right."

"I can't, John. She needs the outdoors. She's like a little bird up
there--shut up!"

"Then let her out--" said the man savagely. "Let her out--up there!" His
lifted hand pointed to the plain about them--in open scorn. He leaned
forward and spoke more persuasively, close to her ear--"We can't back
out now--" he said, "_the child knows too much_!" He gave the barrel
beside them a significant tap. "We couldn't use _this_ plant again--six
years--digging it--and waiting and starving!" He struck the barrel
sharply. "I tell you we've _got_ to put it through! You keep her out of
sight!"

"Her own mother wouldn't know her--" said the woman slowly.

He met the look--and waited.

"I tell you, I've done everything," she said with quick passion. "I've
fed her and amused her and told her stories--I don't _dare_ keep her any
longer!" She touched the barrel beside them--"I tell you, you might as
well put her under that.... You'll put her under for good--if you don't
look out!" she said