ind was upon other things. At times she found
herself standing and looking absently out of the window. She felt
quite sure who was the man responsible for the trouble the previous
night. Her face was paler than it had been for some time and an
occasional nervous tremor shook her body. She found herself mentally
comparing two men, one, mean and contemptible, with no apparent aim in
life but the satisfaction of self; the other, self-reliant, noble, and
working for an honest wage. She knew that one was a miserable cad,
while the other was a true gentleman.

As evening drew near, she became restless and worked with a feverish
haste about the house and at times in the garden. When supper was
over, she drew Nan out upon the verandah.

"Something is going to happen to-night," she told her, "and I wish you
would take father to his room and read him to sleep."

"Is it that old tree affair again to-night?" Nan impatiently asked.

"Yes."

"And Ben will be there, I suppose."

"I expect he will."

"Nell, I wish you would tell him once and for all that you will not
have anything more to do with him. I hate him, and so do you, and you
know it."

"Hush, hush, Nan. Do not talk that way. Do as I ask you now, and
perhaps I shall have something to tell you in the morning. You had
better go to bed early, too."

Nell seemed to be very calm as she walked slowly to the shore and took
up her position by the side of the tree. But her heart was beating
rapidly, and her courage almost forsook her. When, however, she saw
Ben appear from the bushes, and thought of his contemptible work of the
previous evening, she became strengthened by the spirit of anger which
suddenly possessed her. He seemed to her more like a serpent than a
man, and she drew back a step as he approached too near.

"Surely you're not afraid of me, Nell," he chided, noting her action.

"I am not afraid," she calmly replied, "but I do not wish you to come
too close, that's all."

"When are you going to stop this fooling, Nell?" he impetuously asked.

"I am going to stop it to-night, and at once," and she looked him
squarely in the eyes as she spoke. "You have your answer."

He mistook her meaning, however, and reached out impulsively to put his
arms around her.

"Keep away," she ordered. "Don't touch me."

"Why, what do you mean?" Ben demanded, shrinking back before her
steadfast look.

"I mean that I am not going to have anything more to do wi