what you saw there to-night--that gang of stuck-up boys and girls,
living on their family backing. The world's wide, and, God or no God,
there must be better things dealt out than this. I mean than this is to
_some_. I never thought much about it when I first began to think you
might come here with me, but I do now, and there is no use denying it.
Of course, I don't want Sam to know yet. He would do all he could to
help me, but Sam is--is just Sam, as helpless against some difficulties
as I am."

"Don't light the gas yet." Tilly caught his hand entreatingly. A deep
sob of sympathy filled her throat, and she drew him to the little wicker
seat on the porch. "Let's sit awhile here where it is cool. It is warm
in the house."

They sat side beside each other.

"I see. You don't want any Western experiments," he said, plaintively,
his great fingers toying with her hair and now and then touching her
brow. "That is the way of a woman."

"I think," Tilly said, leaning her head against his breast and holding
his hand in hers, "that we ought to let well enough alone." Her thoughts
sank into inexpression and ran on. Should she tell him that she knew
all--knew what he was trying to run from on her account--and assure him
that she wanted to face the whole situation? But how could she tell him,
knowing how sensitive his sudden awakening had made him to the awful
matter? If he had wanted her to know it he would have brought it up
himself. No, that must wait, for to let him know that she knew all would
only add to his pain. He was finding a sort of respite in her supposed
ignorance of the situation; she would let it be so for a while, anyway.

CHAPTER XXVIII

On that day a thing of no little importance was happening at Cranston.
Various members of Whaley's church were holding a meeting at the
farm-house of a certain Simon Suggs. They numbered seven in all,
including Mrs. Suggs, who was supposed to take no part beyond supplying
the group with fresh cider, which had been kept cool in a spring-house
and was now served with warm gingerbread. But she was alert, open-eyed,
and open-eared to all that was done and said.

The meeting was called to order by Suggs himself. "As I understand it,"
he began, rising and clearing his throat, "the object of this meeting is
to take a vote on what we ought to do in the matter under discussion. Do
I hear any motion in that respect?"

"I move," said a wizen-faced little man in a high, piping