"Yes. He told me, if I wanted him--and I did--Godda'mighty! how I wanted him then!" Nella-Rose clasped her poor little work-hardened hands close, and her small white teeth showed through the parted lips while she struggled to regain her calm. "You see--when I gave the letter to Bill Trim, I--I told him--I had to--that it was Miss Lois Ann's, so he didn't think it mattered to me; but when he was dying--he was hurt on the big road they are making in the hills--he was brought to us-all, and Miss Lois Ann and I took care of him, and he grew right sorry for hating her and not telling about the letter--and then--he spoke it out!" "I see. I see. And that was--how long ago--that you wrote the letter?" Nella-Rose looked back over the weary way she had travelled, to this moment in the warm, sun-filled room. "It was befo' lil' Ann came that I sent the letter," she faltered. "Little Ann?" Lynda repeated the name and something terrible rose within her--something that would kill her unless she conquered it. So she asked quickly, desperately: "Your--your child? I see. Go on--Nella-Rose." "I wrote the letter and--sent it. I was hid in Miss Lois Ann's cabin--it was winter--and no one found out! Miss Lois Ann wouldn't believe what I told; she said when him and me was married under the trees and God understood, it didn't make me--right! She--helped me, but she hated--him! And then when he--didn't come, she taught me to--to hate, and it was right _black_ hate until lil' Ann came. When God let her down to me--He took the hate away." Lynda was blinded by her tears. She could hardly see the small figure crouching in the low chair by the fire. "And then--Miss Lois Ann went and told my folks--told Marg, my sister. Marg was married to Jed and she was mighty scornful of me and lil' Ann. She wouldn't tell Jed and my father--she came alone to me. She told me what folks thought. They-all thought I'd gone away with Burke Lawson and Marg felt sorry to see me alive--with lil' Ann. But Miss Lois Ann wouldn't let her sting me with her tongue--she drove her away. Then--Burke came! He'd been a right long way off--he'd broken his leg; he came as soon as he could, and Marg told him and--and laid lil' Ann to him!" "And you--never spoke? You never told?" Lynda had drawn very close--her words were barely above a whisper. "No. It was this-er-way. First, love for him held my tongue mighty still; then hate; and afterwards I couldn't!" "But now, Nella-Rose, _now_--why have you spoken--now?" "I haven't yet. Not to them-all. I had to come here--to him first. I reckon you don't know about Burke and me?" Lynda shook her head. She had thought she knew--but she had wandered sadly.