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eager listener； that he felt a pang of self…reproach。 〃God help
her and forgive me！〃 he muttered between his clinched teeth； 〃but
how can I tell her ALL now！〃
That night； when Mrs。 Starbottle laid her weary head upon her
pillow； she tried to picture to herself Carry at the same moment
sleeping peacefully in the great schoolhouse on the hill； and it
was a rare comfort to this yearning； foolish woman to know that she
was so near。 But at this moment Carry was sitting on the edge of
her bed； half…undressed； pouting her pretty lips and twisting her
long； leonine locks between her fingers as Miss Kate Van Corlear
dramatically wrapped in a long white counterpane； her black eyes
sparkling； and her thoroughbred nose thrown high in airstood over
her like a wrathful and indignant ghost； for Carry had that evening
imparted her woes and her history to Miss Kate； and that young lady
had 〃proved herself no friend〃 by falling into a state of fiery
indignation over Carry's 〃ingratitude；〃 and openly and shamelessly
espousing the claims of Mrs。 Starbottle。 〃Why； if the half you
tell me is true； your mother and those Robinsons are making of you
not only a little coward； but a little snob； miss。 Respectability；
forsooth！ Look you； my family are centuries before the
Trethericks； but if my family had ever treated me in this way； and
then asked me to turn my back on my best friend； I'd whistle them
down the wind；〃 and here Kate snapped her fingers； bent her black
brows； and glared around the room as if in search of a recreant Van
Corlear。
〃You just talk this way because you have taken a fancy to that Mr。
Prince；〃 said Carry。
In the debasing slang of the period； that had even found its way
into the virgin cloisters of the Crammer Institute； Miss Kate； as
she afterward expressed it； instantly 〃went for her。〃
First； with a shake of her head； she threw her long black hair over
one shoulder； then； dropping one end of the counterpane from the
other like a vestal tunic； she stepped before Carry with a
purposely exaggerated classic stride。 〃And what if I have； miss！
What if I happen to know a gentleman when I see him！ What if I
happen to know that among a thousand such traditional；
conventional； feeble editions of their grandfathers as Mr。 Harry
Robinson； you cannot find one original； independent； individualized
gentleman like your Prince！ Go to bed； miss； and pray to Heaven
that he may be YOUR Prince indeed。 Ask to have a contrite and
grateful heart； and thank the Lord in particular for having sent
you such a friend as Kate Van Corlear。〃 Yet； after an imposing
dramatic exit； she reappeared the next moment as a straight white
flash； kissed Carry between the brows； and was gone。
The next day was a weary one to Jack Prince。 He was convinced in
his mind that Carry would not come； yet to keep this consciousness
from Mrs。 Starbottle； to meet her simple hopefulness with an equal
degree of apparent faith； was a hard and difficult task。 He would
have tried to divert her mind by taking her on a long drive； but
she was fearful that Carry might come during her absence； and her
strength； he was obliged to admit； had failed greatly。 As he
looked into her large and awe…inspiring clear eyes； a something he
tried to keep from his mindto put off day by day from
contemplationkept asserting itself directly to his inner
consciousness。 He began to doubt the expediency and wisdom of his
management。 He recalled every incident of his interview with
Carry； and half…believed that its failure was due to himself。 Yet
Mrs。 Starbottle was very patient and confident； her very confidence
shook his faith in his own judgment。 When her strength was equal
to the exertion； she was propped up in her chair by the window；
where she could see the school and the entrance to the hotel。 In
the intervals she would elaborate pleasant plans for the future；
and would sketch a country home。 She had taken a strange fancy； as
it seemed to Prince； to the present location； but it was notable
that the future； always thus outlined； was one of quiet and repose。
She believed she would get well soon； in fact； she thought she was
now much better than she had been； but it might be long before she
should be quite strong again。 She would whisper on in this way
until Jack would dash madly down into the barroom； order liquors
that he did not drink； light cigars that he did not smoke； talk
with men that he did not listen to； and behave generally as our
stronger sex is apt to do in periods of delicate trials and
perplexity。
The day closed with a clouded sky and a bitter； searching wind。
With the night fell a few wandering flakes of snow。 She was still
content and hopeful； and； as Jack wheeled her from the window to
the fire； she explained to him how that； as the school term was
drawing near its close； Carry was probably kept closely at her
lessons during the day； and could only leave the school at night。
So she sat up the greater part of the evening； and combed her
silken hair； and as far as her strength would allow； made an
undress toilet to receive her guest。 〃We must not frighten the
child； Jack；〃 she said apologetically； and with something of her
old coquetry。
It was with a feeling of relief that； at ten o'clock； Jack received
a message from the landlord； saying that the doctor would like to
see him for a moment downstairs。 As Jack entered the grim； dimly
lighted parlor； he observed the hooded figure of a woman near the
fire。 He was about to withdraw again when a voice that he
remembered very pleasantly said：
〃Oh； it's all right！ I'm the doctor。〃
The hood was thrown back； and Prince saw the shining black hair and
black； audacious eyes of Kate Van Corlear。
〃Don't ask any questions。 I'm the doctor； and there's my
prescription；〃 and she pointed to the half…frightened； half…sobbing
Carry in the corner〃to be taken at once。〃
〃Then Mrs。 Tretherick has given her permission？〃
〃Not much； if I know the sentiments of that lady；〃 replied Kate
saucily。
〃Then how did you get away？〃 asked Prince gravely。
〃BY THE WINDOW。〃
When Mr。 Prince had left Carry in the arms of her stepmother； he
returned to the parlor。
〃Well？〃 demanded Kate。
〃She will stayYOU will； I hope； alsotonight。〃
〃As I shall not be eighteen； and my own mistress on the twentieth；
and as I haven't a sick stepmother； I won't。〃
〃Then you will give me the pleasure of seeing you safely through
the window again？〃
When Mr。 Prince returned an hour later； he found Carry sitting on a
low stool at Mrs。 Starbottle's feet。 Her head was in her
stepmother's lap； and she had sobbed herself to sleep。 Mrs。
Starbottle put her finger to her lip。 〃I told you she would come。
God bless you； Jack！ and good night。〃
The next morning Mrs。 Tretherick； indignant； the Rev。 Asa Crammer；
principal； injured； and Mr。 Joel Robinson； Sr。； complacently
respec