She felt the color mounting to her cheeks, and knew that the young man had risen to his feet beside her.

He, on his part, saw only the fair face before him, and felt only the little hand that lay passively in his own.
"It's a sad sort of home to bring you to.

It would be idle to ask if you have been happy here--it would be a mockery; but--but--" "I _have_ been happy; that is, happy to do as Ralph wished me." "And as _I_ wished ?" "As you wished too, Willy." "You've been a blessing to us, Rotha.

I sometimes think, though, that it was hardly fair to bring you into the middle of this trouble." "He did it for the best," said Rotha.
"Who ?" There was a little start of recovering consciousness.
"Ralph," she answered, and dropped her head.
"True--he did it for the best," repeated Willy, and relapsed into silence.
"Besides, I had no home then, you know." How steadfastly the girl's eyes were fixed oh the distant south! "You had your father's home, Rotha." "Ah, no! When it ceased to be poor father's home, how could it be mine any longer?
No, I was homeless." There was another pause.
"Then let me ask you to make this house your home forever.

Can you not do so ?" "I think so--I can scarcely tell--he said it might be best--" Willy let loose her hand.