She was still there, at the gate, her elbows resting upon the cross-bar, when, a long time after Joe had gone, there came from the alley behind the big back yard the minor chordings of a quartette of those dark strollers who never seem to go to bed, who play by night and playfully pretend to work by day: "You know my soul is a-full o' them-a-trub-bils, Ev-ry mawn! I cain' a-walk withouten I stum-bils! Then le'ss go on-- Keep walkin' on! These times is sow'owful, an' I am pow'owful Sick an' fo'lawn!" She heard a step upon the path behind her, and, turning, saw a white-wrapped figure coming toward her. "Mamie?" she called. "Hush!" Mamie lifted a warning hand. "The windows are open," she whispered. "They might hear you!" "Why haven't you gone to bed?" "Oh, don't you see?" Mamie answered, in deep distress,--"I've been sitting up for you. We all thought you were writing letters in your room, but after papa and mamma had gone to bed I went in to tell you good night, and you weren't there, nor anywhere else; so I knew you must have gone out. I've been sitting by the front window, waiting to let you in, but I went to sleep until a little while ago, when the telephone-bell rang and he got up and answered it. He kept talking a long time; it was something about the Tocsin, and I'm afraid there's been a murder down-town. When he went back to bed I fell asleep again, and then those darkies woke me up. How on earth did you expect to get in? Don't you know he always locks up the house?" "I could have rung," said Ariel. "Oh--oh!" gasped Miss Pike; and, after she had recovered somewhat, asked: "Do you mind telling me where you've been? I won't tell him--nor mamma, either. I think, after all, I was wrong yesterday to follow Eugene's advice. He meant for the best, but I--" "Don't think that. You weren't wrong." Ariel put her arm round the other's waist. "I went to talk over some things with Mr. Louden." "I think," whispered Mamie, trembling, "that you are the bravest girl I ever knew--and--and--I could almost believe there's some good in him, since you like him so. I know there is. And I--I think he's had a hard time. I want you to know I won't even tell Eugene!" "You can tell everybody in the world," said Ariel, and kissed her. XVII MR. SHEEHAN'S HINTS