bout. The last part came all at once, on the cars, when I
was coming out. I've never seen--him--Mr. Gage, you know. I don't
know what he looks like."

"They call him Sim Gage."

She remained silent, and he thought best to add a word or so, but could
not, though he tried. Mary Warren's face had colored painfully.

"I suppose they've told you--I suppose everybody knows all about
that--that insane thing I did, coming out here. Well, I was desperate,
that's all. Yet it seems there are good people left in the world. You
are all good people. If only I could see; so I could tell what to do.
Then maybe I could earn my living, someway--if I have to live.

"Good-hearted, isn't he--Mr. Gage?" She nodded with a woman's
confident intuition as she went on. "He didn't cast me out. What can
I do to repay him?"

He could make no answer.

"Little to give him, Doctor--but of course, if he could--in any sort of
justice--accept--accept----"

Doctor Barnes suddenly reached out a hand and pushed her hair back from
her forehead. "I wouldn't," said he. "Please don't. Take things easy
for a little while."

She turned her dark and sightless eyes upon him. "No!" said she.
"That isn't the way we do in my family. We don't take things easy."

"Has he said anything to you?" asked Doctor Barnes after a long time.
"I have very much reluctance to ask."

"He's too much of a man," she said. "No, not yet. It was a sort of
bargain, even if we didn't say so outright. 'Object, matrimony!' I
came out here with my eyes open. But now God has closed them. . . .
Will you tell me the truth?"

"Yes."

"Does he--do you think he----"

"Cares for you?"

"Yes!"

Doctor Barnes replied with extreme difficulty. "We'll say he does
care--that he cares immensely."

She nodded. "I wanted to be fair," said she. "I'm glad I can talk to
some one I can trust."

"What makes you think you can trust me?" blustered Doctor Barnes. "And
you're so Puritan foolish, you're going to marry this man? You think
that is right?"

"He took me in, when I deceived him. I owe my life to him. He's never
once hinted or laughed since I came here. Why, he's a gentleman."

She turned her head away. "Perhaps he would never know," she added.

"Something to take on," commented Doctor Barnes grimly.

"I'd try very hard," she went on. "I'd try to do my best. Mrs. Jensen
says I could learn a great many things. She has an aunt that's--that
has lost he