y the voice of God to slay his young in the cause of
righteousness. Something must be done, and quickly, but what?

CHAPTER XXVI

In terrible loneliness the day dragged by. The blood of her being seemed
sluggish in her veins. She could not eat her luncheon. She thought of
going to see Mrs. Cavanaugh, but she did not know where the contractor
lived, and, as Mrs. Cavanaugh was still in bed with illness, a call
would be out of place. Besides, she was sure, even if she went, that she
would not be able to broach a matter of such undoubted delicacy, and,
unless she mentioned it, how could Mrs. Cavanaugh allude to it? Tilly
felt, too, that when John came she would not be able to mention it to
him, for had he not kept from her even the fact of his mother's visit to
him at his work the day before?

It was growing dark when he came. She had not lighted the gas, because
she feared that he might too plainly see her face and read its new
lines, shadows, and shrinkings, and he came into the hall, his
dinner-pail in hand, as she stood waiting for him in the parlor. She
essayed a cheerful greeting, but the words stuck in her tight throat and
she went into his arms without uttering them.

"So, so, little mouse," he said, in a forced tone of cheerfulness, "here
you are in your dark little hole. Let me light up. I'm dead tired. We
all had to put our shoulders to it to-day and lift some big stones and
place them right. Our derrick broke twice."

He went to the kitchen. She heard him fumbling about for some matches.
Then he came back, striking the matches and lighting the jets in
dining-room, sitting-room, and hall.

"You are hungry," she said. "Supper is ready, all but taking it up."

"Well, yes, I guess I am," he said. "Gee! little girl, it is fine to
have a place to come to like this." He caught her in his arms and kissed
her tenderly. "In a snug place like this a man can throw off his
troubles easier than anywhere else. Sam calls it 'a cottage of delight,'
and that's what it is."

"Troubles?" she repeated, stealing a look into his face. "Have you
troubles, my darling?"

She thought that he avoided her direct gaze, and she was sure that she
felt him start slightly, and that his immediate kiss was somewhat more
mechanical than usual.

"Oh, every fellow in my business has more or less worries," he parried,
awkwardly. "You see, a good deal depends on my judgment, and now and
then Sam and I disagree on little details of c