That night, at eight o'clock, Nan went over to ask if Raven had come home, and finding he had not, loitered back to her own gate and waited. She could not go in. If she kept her mind on him, he might come. And presently he came. She walked to meet him and put her hand through his arm. He was walking firmly, but he looked "all in." "Come," she said. "Supper's waiting." "No," said Raven, "not yet. I got a fellow to bring me back from the street. Dick said you'd been over." "Yes," said Nan. "I was horribly worried. Where's Tenney?" "Gone." "Where?" "To jail. He had Martin take him to a man he knew about at the street. Sworn in special constable in the War. Had him telephone the sheriff. Then I got there. Had to inquire round, to find out where he'd gone. When I went in, Tenney was sitting there telling the sheriff he'd killed his child. Sheriff asked what for. Said he had to do it. Then I came in and he began to ask me questions about the Lord Jesus Christ." "But, Rookie," said Nan, "he didn't. He couldn't. Tira told me she----" "Yes," said Raven heavily. "You may be called to testify." "But when he asked that," said Nan, "about----" she hesitated. "About the Lord Jesus Christ? It was whether his sins were whiter than snow." "What did you tell him?" "Oh," said Raven, "I told him yes. If he was sorry, they were. Of course I told him yes. What could I tell him? But I don't believe I'd have told Martin yes, if he'd asked me about his sins. He's scared blue. He was there at the gate when I went in. Shook like a palsy, kept saying he didn't know--didn't think--nobody need ask him----" "What did you say, Rookie?" "Nothing. I went in to Tenney. Now I'll go back." "You won't come in and have a bite? Nice supper, Rookie. Saved for you." "No. Not to-night." He turned away from her as if she were as actually the outside shell of herself as he was of himself. They were mechanical agents in a too terrible world. But he called back to her: "Nan, I've told her." She was at his side, hoping for more, perhaps a touch of his hand. "Anne. I got word to her somehow. She understood." "Was she----" Nan paused. "Yes," said Raven. "But it's over--done." He turned away from her and went fast along the road home. He had, she saw, escaped Aunt Anne. He had got himself back. Did his quick steps along the road say he meant to escape her, too? That was easy. Darling Rookie! he should if he wanted to. XLVI