risen to a point of burning anger against her
child's detractor. Her heart beat loyally for Nan, and she could
scarcely restrain the words of resentment that rose to her lips, and
that it would have been such unwisdom to have uttered.

"Never mind, Nannie lamb!" she said. "It'll be all right in the
morning. The child will be all well in the morning. You'll see she
ain't so bad as they think. And to-morrow I'll go and tell them all
about it. And perhaps they'll see then it's better to be slow accusin'
where the guilt ain't proved. Come, come! Don't cry so! Why, Nannie,
child, you haven't cried like this since you were--I can't tell how
little. You never cry, Nan. You're always so brave, and never give
way. You'll have a headache if you don't stop. Dry your tears, and
to-morrow it'll be all right."

So, little by little, she soothed the girl, and by and by Nan ate her
dinner, and then, when it was later, she went to bed. But when
everything was hushed and still a dark figure crept noiselessly down
stairs and on into the outer darkness. Down the street it stole until
it had reached a house, which, alone in all the row of darkened
barrack-like dwellings, showed a dimly lit window to the night. There
it halted. And there it stood, like a faithful sentinel, only
deserting its post when the gray light of early morning rose slowly
over the world and the city was astir once more.

CHAPTER III

MR. TURNER'S PLAN

"I am deeply sorry," said Mr. Turner, "and can only apologize in my
friend's name for any annoyance his daughter may have caused you. Of
course I cannot agree with you that she annoys you purposely. A child
of William Cutler could not well be other than large-hearted and
generous. She may be a little undisciplined perhaps, but it shall be
attended to, Madam! I assure you the matter shall be attended to."

Mrs. Newton rose. She had called upon Mr. Turner to state her
complaint against Nan Cutler. Now that was accomplished she would go;
only she made a mental vow that if the lawyer were not as good as his
word, if he did not take immediate steps toward rectifying the matter,
she would follow it up herself and see that she was relieved of what,
in her anger, she called "that common nuisance."

Meantime Nan herself was going about with a dead load of misery on her
heart. Delia had gone to the Newton's house early in the morning to
inquire after the sick child's condition and to repeat Na