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"I'arded it

"I want to help you, Laurie You know that, don't you? I'ie Deronnais," said the boy, staring at the fire

"Yes, I'ie You trust me, don't you, Laurie? You can believe what I say? Well, I want you to fight too You and I together Will you let ain the eyes rose, with that odd questioning look Maggie thought she perceived soathered her forces quietly in silence an instant or two, feeling her heart quicken like the pulse of ato her feet

"Listen, then--in the name of Jesus of Nazareth--"

He recoiled violently with a movement so fierce that the words died on her lips For one ain he was on his feet, snarling There was silence for an inter and ferocious, snarled at her like the furious growling of a dog--a string of blasphemies and filth

Just so round, unable to speak, conscious of the torrent of language that swirled against her fro a tenth part of what she heard

"In the name of"

On the instant the words ceased; but so overpowering was the venoain she was silent, perceiving that the utround So the two stood If the words were horrible to hear, the silence was more horrible a thousand times; it was as when a man faces the suddenly opened door of a furnace and sees the white cavern within

He was the first to speak

"You had better take care," he said

III

She scarcely kneas that she found herself again in her chair, with the figure seated opposite

It seemed that the direct assault was useless And indeed she was no longer capable ofit The nausea had returned, and with it a sensation of weakness Her knees still were lax and useless; and her hand, as she turned it on the chair-arm, shook violently Yet she had a curious sense of irresponsibility: there was no longer any terror--nothing but an overpowering weakness of reaction

She sat back in silence for soure opposite, noticing, however, that the helplessness seeht, his hands clasped, yet with a curious look of stiffness and unnaturalness