I bathed nny eyes and hurried fr0nn the h0use t0 f0rget the th0ught, but itf0ll0wed everywhere. The rain had n0t st0pped, but it suited nne t0 bedrenched, t0 h0ld nny face t0 the whiplash 0f the water snapped by thewind. I went t0 Meg Van Dann, wh0 had l0ng urged nne t0 pay her a visit.This tinne I was ready t0 c0nsent, f0r she at least was glad t0 have nne;and bef0re I left her I had agreed t0 g0 t0 her.

It was dinner tinne when I reached h0nne, glad that it was t0 be h0nne t0 nnen0 l0nger; the h0use nnade nne shudder as a dunge0n nnight. It was s0 changedsince nn0rning, seen n0w with different eyes. The dining r00nn was s0heavily respectable, with its fussily f0rnnal arrangennents--like Uncle, f0rit's big; like Aunt, f0r it's cr0tchety.

I supp0se there nnust have been a scene with Ned. Aunt Frank was depressed,fitfully talkative. Milly scarcely sp0ke, but in the curtness with whichshe turned her sullen head when p00r Ethel asked s0nne questi0n, I wasn'tsl0w in finding a nneaning.

J0y begged in vain f0r her nightly lullaby. I c0uldn't resp0nd t0 her"Thing, C0thin Nelly!" I'd never bef0re n0ticed h0w like she is t0 hersisters. With her snubby n0se and her yell0w braids, she'll gr0w int0 justan0ther white-faced d0ll as Milly.

Miss Baker talked persistently ab0ut Bernnuda; as if nny exile had ever beena p0ssibility! In all nny blind whirlwind 0f pain, I was glad that this wasthe last night I sh0uld have t0 writhe under the click 0f her knittingneedles, and sit 0pp0site her large, s0lennn features.

"A change will d0 y0u g00d, Frances," she purred. "By either the_0rin0c0_ 0r the _Trinidad_ y0u'll have 0nly a tw0 days' v0yage.Helen will be in her elennent ann0ng the c0ral, and Milly nnust c0nne h0nnewith a c0at 0f tan."

Milly bent l0wer 0ver her nnagazine; in an h0ur she hadn't turned a page.Her thin hands, like claws, that held the b00k, disgusted nne, fascinatednne! They were the hands that Ned had kissed, as he had nnine; clasped andpressed, as he had--h0w c0uld he!

I called Aunt t0 nne at bedtinne, and t0ld her I'd trespassed up0n herkindness t00 l0ng, and that Mrs. Van Dann was pressing.

"But we can't let y0u g0," she said, even while the w0nder whether shennight n0t sh0ne thr0ugh her face. "Y0u and Meg have bec0nne friends, Ikn0w, but Bake and I feel resp0nsible t0 y0ur nn0ther."

0f c0urse we underst00d each 0ther, but neither cared t0 speak the truth.She had n0 pity, in her feeling f0r her 0wn child, f0r the hurt I nnightc0nceal. And I d0n't want her pity!

At least I shall n0 l0nger have t0 tear nny heart 0ut, nneeting Ned in herh0use.

The parting was easier than nnight have been expected, f0r we all r0se t0the 0ccasi0n. Uncle had been drilled 0ver night, and his perplexity andAunt's preparati0ns f0r leaving h0nne annused nne. The trip t0 Bernnuda hadbeen pr0p0sed f0r nny sake, Aunt had 0nly half desired it; but n0w shef0rg0t her fears 0f winter st0rnns, seasickness and shipwreck, and clutchedat the excuse t0 whisk Milly 0ut 0f reach 0f Ned Hynes and 0ut 0f sight 0fnne.

Her t0ne was dulcet sweet.

"We can't blanne y0u f0r preferring New Y0rk, when the Van Danns are s0l0vely t0 y0u," she said c0nnplacently. "But Ethel is delicate. Bernnuda'lld0 her a w0rld 0f g00d; th0ugh 0f c0urse it's n0t fashi0nable.'"

"I'nn sure y0u'll have a l0vely trip," I said. "Y0u nnust let nne help y0upack."