"Donelle, I only learned a little while ago that it was Mam’selle’s money that sent me off, gave me my chance." "Tom!" And now Donelle’s eyes were no longer dreamy. "Yes. She worked and saved and never told." Tom’s voice was vibrant with emotion. "And she worked and saved that I might have my chance," murmured Donelle. "I’m going to pay her back double," Tom said. "Now, Tom Gavot," Donelle rose as she spoke, "you can see why I came back. I am going to pay her back—double. Some day I may go away and learn how to make money, much money, but first I have to show Mamsey that I love her best in all the world." "I guess you know your way," Tom replied. "And, Donelle, I want to tell you, I’m not going to live with my father. I couldn’t. Here, can you see that little hut down there?" Donelle bent and peered through the trees. "Yes," she said. "Well, I’m going to clean that up and live there. It has a chimney, and the windows look right on the river. When you open the wide door it’s almost as good as being out under the sky. That’s where I’m going to set up housekeeping." "How wonderful, Tom! And Mamsey and I will help you. We’ll make rugs and curtains. We’ll make it like a home." "It will be the first, then, that I’ve ever had." Tom did not say this bitterly, but with a gentle longing that touched Donelle. "I’ll come and see you, sometimes, Tom. Mamsey and I. It will be great fun to sit by your fire and hear about your roads." "And you’ll fiddle, Donelle?" "Oh! yes, I’ll fiddle until you tell me to stop." Then suddenly Donelle grew grave. "Tom, do you think you can keep your father straight if you are so far away?" "I’ll keep him _quiet_!" Tom answered. "I’ll see to that." "After a little while, no one will remember," Donelle went on slowly. "Point of Pines is like that. Mamsey knew, they all knew. But if I can keep them from thinking that I know, I do not mind." "They shall!" Tom promised. What Tom Gavot did not tell Donelle, but what burned and blistered his soul, was this: Pierre, sober and keenly vicious, had welcomed Tom with eagerness and cunning. Tom meant money and perhaps care. Tom was redeemed and successful, he would have to look after his poor father in order to keep the respect he had wrung from better folk. After a maudlin display of sentiment and devotion Pierre had said: "That girl of Mam’selle Morey’s, Tom, she’s yours for the getting!" "What do you mean?" Tom had asked, turning his young and awful eyes upon his father, "I thought Mam’selle—I thought Donelle was with the Lindsays and going to the States. Father Mantelle wrote——"