will not be strict with her."

"Judge Ostrander!"

Deborah Scoville was never more taken aback in her life. The
recluse opening his doors to two women! The man of mystery
flinging aside the reticences of years to harbour an innocence
which he refused to let weigh against the claims of a son he has
seen fit to banish from his heart and home!

"You may take time to think of it," he continued, as he watched
the confused emotions change from moment to moment the character
of her mobile features. "I shall not have my affairs adjusted for
such a change before a week. If you accept, I shall be very
grateful. If you decline, I shall close up my two rear gates, and
go into solitary seclusion. I can cook a meal if I have to."

And she saw that he would do it; saw and wondered still more.

"I shall have to write to Reuther," she murmured. "How soon do you
want my decision?"

"In four days."

"I am too disturbed to thank you, judge. Should--should we have to
keep the gates locked?"

"No. But you would have to keep out unwelcome intruders. And the
rights of my library will have to be respected. In all other
regards I should wish, under these new circumstances, to live as