Mary turned toward her with that gravity which quite commonly marked her face when all her features were at rest. "I quite mean it all, Mrs. Davidson," said she. "I'm thankful with all my heart that I came out here. It's a great place to fight things out. I'd never have been happy in all my life if I had not come here. I'm really glad, and you may believe that, because I do--now." "You would forgive--you would cherish no malice against any who acted as the ah--instigators--of your original journey here?" A sudden question arose in Mrs. Davidson's mind as to whether or not any of Mary Gage's associates and neighbors ever had told her all the story of that original endeavor, whose object was matrimony. Whereupon she concluded now to let sleeping dogs lie, and not to urge the matter. Nor was Mary herself the more disposed at the moment to speak of the past. She only looked out across the valley, as was her custom. They passed on to some talk of the peace news, and demobilization plans for the men still abroad, for the visitors had brought the latest paper with them. "Our men!" exclaimed Mary Gage as she read the headlines. "They're fine. They are always fine, everywhere, all of them. I'd have liked to see them in the great parades, in the cities." "'Twould be a gr-r-r-and sight," said Mrs. Davidson, "for women who have had no oppor-r-r-tunity!" "Ah? Women who haven't had what women wish?" said Mary Gage, a strange confidence in her own tones. "Don't you suppose God knows the way? Why be trying to change----" The word did not come at first. "The plan?" suggested Mrs. Davidson. "The plan!" said Mary. "I must be going before long," said Karen Jensen, having finished her saucer of berries, and caring little for philosophizing. "I've got to milk seven cows yet." "I will come often, if I may, Mrs. Gage, now that I am again located in this valley," said her companion, rising also. "Oh, won't you, please!" said Mary Gage. "And--won't you do me a little favor now? I have a letter--I was just going up to the corner to put it in the box. If you're going that way, will you drop it in for me?" Karen Jensen hesitated, looking across at the shortcut across the fields, but Mrs. Davidson, not being well organized for barbed wire entanglements, offered for the errand, which would take her around by the road. "Surely, I shall be most happy," said she. "I will walk around by the box and drop your letter very gladly. No, no, don't mind coming. It's nothing--I always go home that way."