Then she turned as noiselessly as she had entered, and went out, leaving him to peaceful sleep--to dreams--to the sighing of the pines.
Hope Wayne went quietly to her room, which was next to the one in which Gabriel lay.

Her kind heart had sent her to see that he wanted nothing.
She thought of him only as a boy who had had the worst of a quarrel, and she pitied him.

Was it then, indeed, only pity for the victim that knocked gently at his door?
Was she really thinking of the conqueror when she went to comfort the conquered?
Was she not trying somehow to help Abel by doing all she could to alleviate the harm he had done?
Hope Wayne asked herself no questions.

She was conscious of a curious excitement, and the sighing of the pines lulled her to sleep.

But all night long she dreamed of Abel Newt, with bare head and clustering black hair, gracefully bowing, and murmuring excuses; and oh! so manly, oh! so heroic he looked as he carefully helped to lay Gabriel in the carriage..