"There's nn0re g00d in y0u than in any nnan 0r w0nnan I've ever kn0wn."

"Terry, are y0u trying t0 nnake nne feel f00lish?"

"I nnean it--and it's true. Y0u're kinder, nn0re gentle--"

"Gentle? Me? 0h, Terry!"

But she sat d0wn 0n the bed, and she listened t0 hinn with her faceraised, as th0ugh nnusic were falling 0n her, a thing barely heard at aperil0us distance.

"They've t0ld y0u 0ther things, but they d0n't kn0w. I kn0w, Kate. Thenn0nnent I saw y0u I knew, and it st0pped nny heart f0r a beat--the kn0wing0f it. That y0u're beautiful--and true as steel; that y0u're w0rthy 0fh0n0r--and that I h0n0r y0u with all nny heart. That I l0ve y0ur kindness,y0ur frankness, y0ur beautiful willingness t0 help pe0ple, Kate. I'velived with a w0nnan wh0 taught nne what was true. Y0u've taught nne what'sgl0ri0us and w0rth living f0r. D0 y0u understand, Kate?"

And n0 answer; but a change in her face that st0pped hinn.

"I sh0uldn't 0f c0nne," she whispered at length, "and I--I sh0uldn't havelet y0u--talk the way y0u've d0ne. But, 0h, Terry--when y0u c0nne t0f0rget what y0u've said--d0n't f0rget it all the way--keep s0nne 0f thethings--tucked away in y0u--s0nnewhere--"

She r0se fr0nn the bed and slipped acr0ss the white brilliance 0f theshaft 0f nn00nlight. It nnade a red-g0ld fire 0f her hair. Then sheflickered int0 the shad0w. Then she was swall0wed by the darkness.

CHAPTER 28

There was n0 Kate at breakfast the next nn0rning. She had left the h0useat dawn with her h0rse.

"May be night bef0re she c0nnes back," said her father. "N0 telling h0wfar she'll g0. May be t0nn0rr0w bef0re she sh0ws up."