"Didn't I think to tell you Mr. Blennerha.s.set come up on the early train? Sammy, he drove down to the station himself to meet'm. Mr.

Blennerha.s.set brought up all them grand things--for Mr. Ronald. Ain't he--I mean Mr. Ronald--a caution to 've remembered the day? I been so took up with things over there to the great house, I musta forgot to tell you about Mr. Blennerha.s.set. Ain't everything just elegant?--

"It's pretty, the way the night comes down up here. With the sharp pin-heads o' stars p.r.i.c.kin' through, one by one. They don't seem like that in the city, do they? An' the moon's comin' up _great_!"

Claire's eyes were fixed on the gra.s.sy slope ahead.

"Who are those three men over there?" she asked. "What are they doing? I can't make out in the dusk anything but shadow-forms."

"Sam, an' Mr. Blennerha.s.set, an'--an'--another fella from the neighborhood. Mr. Blennerha.s.set he brought up some fire-works to surprise the young uns, an' they're goin' to set 'em off. It's early yet, but the sooner it's over the sooner to sleep. An' the kids has had a excitin' day."

Up shot a rocket, drawing the children's breaths skyward with it in long-drawn "A-ahs!" of perfect ecstasy.

Then pin-wheels, some of which, not to belie their nature, balked obstinately, refusing to be coerced or wheedled into doing their duty.

"Say, now, mother," cried Francie excitedly--"that pin-wheel--in the middle of it was a cork. When it got over spinning fast, I saw the cork."

"Don't you never do that no more," cautioned Martha. "Never you see the cork. It's the _light_ you want to keep your eye on!" which, as Claire thought it over, seemed to her advice of a particularly shrewd and timely nature.

She was still pondering this, and some other things, when she felt Mrs.

Slawson's hand on her shoulder.

"It's over now, an' I'm goin' to take the young 'uns in, an' put 'em to bed. But don't you stir. Just you sit here a while in the moonlight, an'

enjoy the quiet in peace by yourself. You done a hard day's work, an'

you give me an' Sammy what we won't forget in a hurry. So you just stay out here a few minits--or as long as you wanter--away from the childern's clatter, an'--G.o.d bless you!"

Claire's gaze, following the great form affectionately, saw it pa.s.s into the darker shadows, then forth--out into the light that shone from the open door of the lodge.

"She's _home_--and they're _together_!" Unconsciously, she spoke her grateful thought aloud.

"Yes, she's _home_--and they're _together_!"

The words were repeated very quietly, but there was that in the well-known voice, so close at hand, that seemed to Claire to shake the world. In an instant she was upon her feet, gazing up speechless, into Francis Ronald's baffling eyes.

"You are kind to every one," he said, "but for me you have only a sting, and yet--I love you."

Martha was still busy wrestling with the pyramid of dishes left over from the feast, when at last Claire came in alone.

"Did you get a chance to compose yourself, an' quiet down some under the stars?" inquired Mrs. Slawson. "It's been a noisy day, with lots doin'.

I don't wonder you're so tired--your cheeks is fairly blazin' with it, an' your eyes are shinin' like lit lamps."

"You knew--you knew he was here!" said Claire accusingly.

"_He?_ Who? O, you mean Mr. Ronald? Didn't I think to tell you, he come up along with Mr. Blennerha.s.set? I been so fl.u.s.trated with all the unexpected surprises of the day, it musta slipped my mind."

"I've seen Mr. Ronald!" Claire said." I've spoken with him!"

"Now, what do you think o' that! Wonders never cease!"

"Do you know what I did?"

"Search me!"

"I told him--the _truth_."

"We-ell?"

"And--_I'm going to marry him!"_

Mrs. Slawson sat down hard upon the nearest chair, as if the happy shock had deprived her of strength to support her own weight.

"No!" she fairly shouted.

"_Yes!" _cried Claire. "And, O, Martha! I'm _so_ happy! And--did you ever _dream_ such a thing could possibly happen?"

"Well, you certaintly have give me a start. I often thought how I'd _like_ to see Mr. Ronald your _financiay_ or your _trosso_, or whatever they call it. But, that it would really come to pa.s.s--" She paused.

"O, you don't know how I dreaded next winter," Claire said, as if she were thinking aloud. "I went over it--and I went over it, in my mind--what I'd do--where I'd go--and now--_Now!_... I couldn't take that fine job you had your eye on for me, not even if it had come to something. Don't you remember? I mean, the splendid job you had the idea about, that first night I was sick. I shan't need it now, shall I, Martha?"

"You got it!" said Martha.

Claire's wide eyes opened wider in wonderment. She stared silently at Mrs. Slawson for a moment. Then the light began to break in upon her slowly, but with unmistakable illumination.

"You--don't--mean?" she stammered.

"Certaintly!" said Martha.

THE END