had come over her; she was anything but a polished young woman, of
course; nevertheless she had been modified, toned down, vastly
improved, and not until her first queer emotion at seeing him had
disappeared was the full extent of that improvement manifest to the
newcomer. He wondered why she had acted so oddly at first; surely she
did not fear him. No, Allie's face at this moment was alight with
supreme joy and satisfaction; she appeared to be quite as happily at
her ease as Ma, who was singing steadily in a thin, rusty voice.

Gray sent the father away on some pretext, finally; then he called to
Allie: "Come in here and talk to me. I am a guest and I demand
entertainment." He observed with silent approval her carriage as she
entered the room and accepted the chair he offered her. Faint trace of
the nester's daughter here. "I want a good chance to look at you."

Allie colored faintly. "I guess I'm not much to look at."

"Hm-m! You don't in the least resemble that girl I found hoeing in the
garden. You are terribly thin."

"Spinach!" said Allie.

"Dieting, eh?"

"Yes. Spinach and water and a rubber suit. Sometimes I have a party and
eat a whole soda cracker."

"It isn't too high a price to pay for beauty--beauty, 'the fading
rainbow's pride.' We men should thank Heaven for women's courage in
pursuing it. It is all that makes this world an attractive dwelling
place for nice people."

"Sometimes I think it's kind of wicked to spend so much time and money
that way, but--I guess it's all right. I want to look as good as other
people."

"I'm in a mood for quotations. 'Is beauty vain because it will fade?
Then are earth's green robe and heaven's light vain.' Pride, even
vanity, is less of a vice than slovenliness, my dear. Now then, do you
like Mrs. Ring?"

Allie nodded. "I like her, but--I hate her. She makes me feel awful mad
because she can't understand that I ain't--I am not mad at her, but at
myself. I don't hardly know how to explain it. If I was her I'd hate
me, like I do."

"Would you like to have her remain?"

"Oh, I would! She knows everything, and she makes me learn. But she
won't stay. I just found out that she's been quitting every few weeks,
and Pa's been raising her wages. No, the disgrace, and our being thrown
out--"

"My dear girl, let me assure you, once for all, there is no suggestion
of disgrace about this affair. You behaved with spirit, and those who
have heard about it admire you. I