Alvin lifted his head slowly. He saw jail yawning before him. If they searched his house, they could still find a few of Katy's silver coins. Then under the pressure of fear--Alvin as yet felt no shame--his mind worked to some purpose. There was one possible defense to make; this he offered. "Katy often gave me money and put it in that place for me," he said, boldly. "There I got it many times. Ain't--" Alvin's normal school training suddenly forsook him--"ain't it so, Katy?" "You must be wandering in your mind, Alvin," said the squire, scornfully. "There he will not wander far," cried Bevy with a shrill laugh. Alvin rose from his chair and approached Katy. Color returned to his cheek, his eyes brightened. "Ain't it so, Katy, that you often put money in that hole for me?" "Humbug!" cried the squire. But Alvin persisted. He went nearer to Katy, and with single united motion Katy's relatives sprang toward him. Aunt Sally put her arm round her niece, Bevy made a threatening motion toward Alvin's ear, Uncle Edwin seized him by the arm. But Alvin grew ever bolder. Despite the threats of Bevy and the hand of Edwin, he took another step toward Katy. "Say you gave money to me often, Katy?" Katy answered in a low voice. She was too confused to think of any expedient; she answered with the truth. Perhaps that would put an end to this intolerable scene. It would be bad enough to have them know, but it was worse to stand here in misery with them all staring at her. "Yes," she answered Alvin, "I did give you sometimes money." "What!" cried the squire. Uncle Edwin and Bevy each gave a kind of groan. Katy lifted her head. "I said 'yes.'" Now Bevy began to cry aloud. "Next time I will not take you to the squire, you lump! Next time I will twist your ear quite off. I will settle you right!" "Bevy, you had better go," suggested the squire; and meekly Bevy departed. "Edwin, suppose you and Sally leave these young people here." Together Uncle Edwin and Aunt Sally approached the door. Aunt Sally was wiping her eyes on her apron; Uncle Edwin walked with bent head as though the name of Gaumer was disgraced forever. Them the squire followed to the door, and outside, wishing to be certain that no curious Millerstonians lingered. With his hand on the outer knob, he closed the door while he promised to see Edwin later in the evening. Edwin stopped to express his horror at this strange situation; their conversation consumed a few seconds at least. Behind the closed door Alvin approached Katy as she stood by the squire's desk, numb, smitten, unable to raise her head. "Katy," said he, softly, "I do not care if you have worked out, Katy. That is less than nothing to me. I am never going to marry that other one. She is no good. I will marry you, Katy. I did not know"--Alvin's voice shook--"I did not know till this time how I love you, Katy." At this point Alvin laid his hand upon Katy's arm and applied a tender pressure.