despairingly. "And you don't deny that you're
going away again--so it's true! I wish I hadn't
realized it so soon. I think I'd rather have tried
to fool myself about it a little longer!"

"Joe," she cried, in a voice of great pain, "you
mustn't feel like that! How do you know I'm
going away again? Why should I want the old
house put in order unless I mean to stay? And if
I went, you know that I could never change; you
know how I've always cared for you--"

"Yes," he said, "I do know how. It was always
the same and it always will be, won't it?"

"I've shown that," she returned, quickly.

"Yes. You say I know how you've cared for
me--and I do. I know HOW. It's just in one certain
way--Jonathan and David--"

"Isn't that a pretty good way, Joe?"

"Never fear that I don't understand!" He got
to his feet again and looked at her steadily.

"Thank you, Joe." She wiped sudden tears
from her eyes.

"Don't you be sorry for me," he said. "Do