heads together was natural enough. I mean after I
was better the last thing before you went home."

Mrs. Stringham continued to wonder. " Who
told you I saw him then?"

"He didn't himself nor did you write me it
afterwards. We speak of it now for the first time.
That's exactly why! " Milly declared with some
thing in her face and voice that, the next moment,
betrayed for her companion that she had really
known nothing, had only conjectured and, chanc
ing her charge, made a hit. Yet why had her mind
been busy with the question? " But if you re not,
as you now assure me, in his confidence," she
smiled, " it's no matter."

"I'm not in his confidence, and he had nothing
to confide. But are you feeling unwell?"

The elder woman was earnest for the truth,
though the possibility she named was not at all the
one that seemed to fit witness the long climb
Milly had just indulged in. The girl showed her
constant white face, but that her friends had all
learned to discount, and it was often brightest when
superficially not bravest. She continued for a little
mysteriously to smile. " I don't know haven't
really the least idea. But it might be well to find
out."

Mrs. Stringham, at this, flared into sympathy.
"Are you in trouble in pain?"

"Not the least little bit. But I sometimes won-
der!"

[[145]]

p144 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p145w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p146

v?