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"I'm glad you think so," she said in a certain tone, and silence ensued.

Each knew that the other had been wounded. They walked the rest of way to the Scovell House almost in silence.

Now, on their way home, under the gloom of a certain elm, Abner had not exactly planned, but a notion certainly had flitted through his head that he would kiss Nessie, or at least attempt to; but now, after this unhappy discussion and the way she had said, "I'm glad you think so," the caress had become impossible. He really did not want to kiss her now. He would not if he could. If she should put her arms about his neck and say, "I was wrong, kiss me and forgive me," he would coldly undo her arms and say, "No, not after you are glad I think so. . . ."

Nevertheless, when the two came to the gloomy elm, Abner walked under it in a state of deep depression. He felt somehow as if Nessie had vanished and a strange girl walked in her stead. Then a flicker of his former apprehension for Tug passed through his mind.

"I do hope nothing has happened to Tug."

"What makes you think anything has?" asked Nessie in her cold voice.

"Well, the preacher has been tellin' what awful things happen to folks who don't do like he says."

"That's so," agreed Nessie, a little impressed, but still unsympathetic.

The rest of the way to the hotel they maintained a strained silence. They let themselves in the hotel door as silently as they could and went upstairs past the light on the newel post.

At his door Abner said, "Good-night" in an unnatural voice, and Nessie returned it briefly and hurried on. While Abner neither loved her nor would forgive her on any terms, he remained looking after her with a shaken feeling, his hand resting on his doorknob. He could not see her, but he heard her enter her room at the end of the hall, then