"It is worse than I imagined it could be," Horace declared; "much worse, for I never thought that the squatter could get a reputable firm to represent him. And as for Everett--well, he never entered my mind. I told him that he could not take those children, and that he might--" He remembered plainly what he had said, but did not communicate it to his sister. She was so frail, so gently modest, that an angry man's language would hurt her. "I told him," ended Horace, "to do whatever he thought best, and that, if Cronk came here again, I should shoot him down like a dog. I think we ought to tell Fledra, and then, too, I desire to speak to her of something else. Can you bring her to me, Ann, without frightening Floyd?" * * * * * It did not need Ann's quiet plucking at her sleeve to tell Fledra that the blow had fallen. She had expected it day after day; until now, when she faced Horace and looked into his tense face, she felt that her whole hope had gone. Ann tiptoed out before her brother opened his lips. For a moment the harassed man knew not what to say to the silent, trembling girl. "Fledra," he began, "the first move has been made in your case by your father." "Must we go?" burst from the quivering lips. "No, no: not if you have told me the truth about your past life--I mean about your father being cruel to you." The sensitive face gathered a deep flush: "I've never lied to you, Brother Horace," she replied gently. "If I could believe you, child, if I could place absolute confidence in your word, I should have courage to go into the struggle without losing hope." "What's Pappy Lon done?" "He has employed Everett Brimbecomb to take you back to Ithaca." Fledra shrank back as if he had struck her. Swiftly into her mind came the smiling, handsome face of the lawyer whom Ann loved. His brilliant eyes seared her soul like fire. In all her life, even when facing Lem Crabbe, she had never felt as she did now. She saw Floyd fading into the graveyard beyond, while she was being torn from the only haven of rest she had ever known. Lem Crabbe could not have taken her; but Everett Brimbecomb could! She felt again his burning kisses, the clasp of his strong arms, and her own disgust. He seemed a giant of strength, and Horace's white face and set lips aggravated her fear. Fledra's desire for comfort had never been so great as the desire she had at this moment to open her tired heart to Horace and reveal to him Everett's perfidy. "Did you tell Sister Ann about Mr. Brimbecomb?" She stumbled over the name. "Yes." "What did she say?" "My sister loves him--you know that. She is heartbroken that he should have accepted this case. We must make it as easy as we can for her, dear child." The girl saw Horace's lips twitch as he spoke, and thought of the love he had for his sister, and her desire to tell him what she knew died immediately.