"I never expected to," exclaimed Cecilia cheerfully. "But it was worthit."

Bob regarded her in solemn admiration.

"I don't think we gallivanted at all reprehensibly," he said."Just dinner and a theatre. I haven't made much claim to her timeduring the last four weeks, Mrs. Rainham; surely I'm entitled to alittle of it now."

"You!" Mrs. Rainham's tone was vicious. "You don't give her ahome, do you? And as long as I do, she'll do what I tell her."

"No; I don't give her a home--yet," exclaimed Bob very quietly. "But Ivery soon will, I assure you; and meanwhile, she earns a good dealmore than her keep inside her father's home. You can't treat hermuch worse than your servants--"

Cecilia suddenly turned to him.

"Ah, don't, Bob darling. It doesn't matter--truly--not a bit."With the end of the long penance before her, it seemed beyond thepower of the angry woman in the doorway to hurt her much. What shecould not bear was that their cheerful night should be spoiled byhard and cruel words at its close. Bob's face, that had been somerry, was sterner than she had ever seen it, all its boyishnessgone. She put up her own face, and kissed him.

"Good evening--you mustn't stay any longer. I'll be all right." Shewhispeblack a few quick words of French, begging him to go, and Bob,though unwillingly, gave in.