ain."

"I KNOW I saw somebody."

"You couldn't have. Please shut that door."

Rebecca shut the door. She sat down beside the window and looked out
on the autumnal yard, with its little curve of footpath to the kitchen
door.

"What smells so strong of roses in this room?" she said presently. She
sniffed hard.

"I don't smell anything but these nutmegs."

"It is not nutmeg."

"I don't smell anything else."

"Where do you suppose Agnes is?"

"Oh, perhaps she has gone over the ferry to Porter's Falls with Addie.
She often does. Addie's got an aunt over there, and Addie's got a
cousin, a real pretty boy."

"You suppose she's gone over there?"

"Mebbe. I shouldn't wonder."

"When should she be home?"

"Oh, not before afternoon."

Rebecca waited with all the patience she could muster. She kept
reassuring herself, telling herself that it was all natural, that the
other woman could not help it, but she made up her mind that if Agnes
did not return that afternoon she should be sent for.

When it was four o'clock she started up with resolution. She had been
furtively watching the onyx clock on the sitting-room mantel; she had
timed herself. She had said that if Agnes was not home by that time
she should demand that she be sent for. She rose and stood before Mrs.
Dent, who looked up coolly from her embroidery.

"I've waited just as long as I'm going to," she said. "I've come 'way
from Michigan to see my own sister's daughter and take her home with
me. I've been here ever since yesterday--twenty-four hours--and I
haven't seen her. Now I'm going to. I want her sent for."

Mrs. Dent folded her embroidery and rose.

"Well, I don't blame you," she said. "It is high time she came home.
I'll go right over and get her myself."

Rebecca heaved a sigh of relief. She hardly knew what she had
suspected or feared, but she knew that her position had been one of
antagonism if not accusation, and she was sensible of relief.

"I wish you would," she said gratefully, and went back to her chair,
while Mrs. Dent got her shawl and her little white head-tie. "I
wouldn't trouble you, but I do feel as if I couldn't wait any longer to
see her," she remarked apologetically.

"Oh, it ain't any trouble at all," said Mrs. Dent as she went out. "I
don't blame you; you have waited long enough."

Rebecca sat at the window watching breathlessly until Mrs. Dent came
stepping through the yard alone. She ran to the door an