His laughing eyes left her in no doubt as to the audacious answer he had given. She glanced across at Ethan. He was lingering a moment with his neighbor, Baby Whittaker, while they ate a philopena, smiling and talking for all the world as if-- But, after all, what did it matter? Since the moment when Ethan had said that about his "caring," she had lived in a cloudy rapture. Nothing but a blessed happiness was clearly defined, not even the wish to define. For a time Ethan's confession was all-sufficient. She had borne with his absence and his engagements with Mr. Otway, as she bore now with his polite pretence that Miss Whittaker really existed. Val endured the inconclusive hours with a patience that would have been more surprising had it been patience at all, and not sheer absorption in the unreasoning joy of living over that moment, which she felt had justified her coming, even if it presaged no easy issue. She had determined to stay at least a week longer. A week was a lifetime; a thousand things could happen in a week. Dimly in the background of her mind she was feeling her way to a conclusion that, if all else failed, should beyond peradventure break down this nightmare barrier. But she did not even subconsciously face the extremity. They had all been going to ride out to Miss Baby Whittaker's in the afternoon. Val was no friend to the plan, but too much had been said of Baby Whittaker's conquest of Ethan the day before at the Pink Luncheon for her to venture an objection. When the discreet Saturday brought with it floods of rain, Val's heart went out in gratitude. During the little lull in the downpour, about two o'clock, Ethan had ridden over, whereupon the Ball household smiled covertly at his eagerness to go to Baby Whittaker's. But it was no use, the roads were already very bad, and down came the torrent again. It was just as well, perhaps, as Mrs. Ball wouldn't, in any case, be able to go. Old father Ball had had a seizure of some sort in the morning, and Mrs. Ball hung over him solicitously, fearing another. Val's chief concern was lest, when Ethan saw the dropped jaw and leaden eyes, he should turn and flee. "Why _did_ they keep their old and sick in the parlor?" thought the girl, angrily. Suddenly Mrs. Ball gave a scream. "Harry, help me to take him into his room!" He was struggling. Ethan went forward, and he and Harry carried the old man out. "Is he dead?" asked the girl, when Ethan came back. "No, he's not in luck this time, I'm afraid. I've lent Harry my horse to go for the doctor. The _doctor_!" He gave a little dry laugh. They stood at the window, looking out. Surreptitiously she glanced at him. "Oh, you wouldn't look so grave if you knew what I know," she thought to herself. "I _feel_ it's coming all right for us. It must, it _must_! But I dare not say so yet;" and with her sense of superior knowledge, of being in the councils of the gods, her spirits rose.