Nobody's Child

did not g

ot of the stairs, then half-way up, to where the stairs made a turn, and stood for a time, listening. Everything was quiet above. In the dining-room the men were sti

til it was drawn back again into the ballroom by the less rhythmic measure of a squ

up from a bench. "I hoped you'd come!" he sa

"Have you been enjoying

didn't co

y. "You are not poli

bare arm. "Where can I get

stairs-and my overshoes.... It is s

said with the quickness of the

es in mind, but she demurred.

on his arm and a pair of overshoes in each hand. He held up the larger pair. "I'

You know how to surmount a difficulty, don't you?" She h

ongings-if there is no other way.... Sit

ach foot before he planted it on the floor. "They are so small," he said. "There are not many women whose feet are kissable." Then dashed by his t

f deference sat oddly on him; he was most attractive when presumptuous. Her reflections caused her a pang. Retrospective jealousy over affairs that were none

ay gravely, "You are a l

dded with native shrewdness and candor combined

Judith returned with instant hauteur.

humbly that the prick of his previous remark ceased to smart. Why

arm, and vented his discomfort by criticizing the moon. "The stars are doing their best-why doesn't th

on of her arm. Judith judged that he had been sufficiently rebuked and also that she had pr

much urgency. They had come to the verge of the first terrace, and he tested the g

away-some one will be wa

been on duty all evening. Come, shunt it all for a few minutes."

ith confessed, and her

Isn't there a bench

last terrace-under

They'll all be out after that dance an

t suspect that it was his forcefulness that attracted her, all was well.

inly y

ow and beyond it a steep slope crowned by a group of trees, their outlines distinct against the sky. In every direction but this the country dropped away from th

ou warm enough? You have nothing on your h

imself. That had been so natural a performance, and this enforced deference was so entirely a new experience. He was enjoying it; he liked the way in which Judith kept the distance b

remarked. "I don't know that I

are? If you're here in the summer you'll become acquainted with them, too. But I suppose you will b

away when I go-if you c

. "Do you happ

of gab and manipulation too. I can talk money out of a man-any hour of the day. Now that I have had enough of adventure, I mean to settle d

h for him; it had both a persuasive and a compelling quality. "It is, but I ad

ill over making money. I mean, thrill at the fight one must make in order to gain power over men and circumstances, for that is really the thing th

n is the only one who has. He would be a success, if given the opportunity. He is tremendously

romptly: "He seems to be an energetic, wide-awake sort." Baird's

ve run the farm-for it is that now-the days of tobacco growing were over long ago-but it is Garvin, really, who has done all the buying and selling. He has made quite an income from h

So that was the reason he had been welcome at Westmore! That was

that basis-but he was stung by the thought that Judith had smiled on him for a purpose. He had mentioned his plans to no one; it spoke well for her keenne

expression. His voice did not lose its pleasing qua

m afraid," Judith

ad been right when he had decided that she was cold; she had simply unbent for a purpose. Aloud he said, "The manufactur

oundings by a gesture. "The family traditions have very little hold on Garvin-they make him impatient and dissatisfied. You see, I am older than my brother and I have had a great deal of responsibility. I feel more like a mother than a sister to him. His dissatisfaction worries me terribly. It would be

His doubts had melted like a fog under sunshine. He took her hand and kissed it.

himself. The thing he liked best in her was her aloofness. "I've often wanted to thank you for the way you have taken

ul vivacity. "Some day we will ride all over the place and you shall become really acquainted with it.... Do you see that group of trees

rselves, birth and marriage and death.... I think there's too much fuss and ceremony over all three. The first is gene

this note from him. "Mr. Baird! How unl

. For some unaccountable reason Baird was touched by depression. This family with their cl

vement. She was sitting taut, her ho

id sharply. "Listen!... There are voices at the barn-and

now a thud on soft ground, then the click of hoofs

r it-what h

ces, and her exclamation of distress reached him