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〃Of Christopher Blake？〃 repeated Maria； and fell a step away from him。
〃Blake has been a deuced good friend to me；〃 insisted Will； 〃that's what the old man hateswhat he's hated steadily all along。 The whole trouble started when I wouldn't choose my friends to please him； and when at last I undertook to pick out my own wife there was hell to pay。〃
Maria's gaze wandered inquiringly in the direction of the house； which had a disordered and thriftless air。
〃Is she here？〃 she asked； not without a slight nervousness in her voice。
Will followed her glance； and； taking off his big straw hat； pulled at the shoestring tied tightly around the crown。
〃Not now； but you'll see her some day； when she's dressed up； and I tell you she'll be worth your looking at。 All she needs is a little money to turn her into the most tearing beauty you ever saw。〃
〃And she's not at home？〃
〃Not now；〃 he replied impatiently； 〃her mother has just come over and taken her off。 I say； Maria；〃 he lowered his voice； and an eager look came into his irresolute face； which already showed the effects of heavy drinking； 〃this can't keep up； you know； it really can't。 We must have money； for there's a child coming in the autumn。〃
〃A child！〃 exclaimed Maria； startled。 〃Oh； Will！ Will！〃 She glanced round again at the barren landscape and the squalid little house； 〃then something must be done at oncethere's no time to lose。 I'll speak to grandfather about it this very night。〃
〃At least； there's no harm in trying；〃 said Will； catching desperately at the suggestion。 〃Even if you don't make things better； there's a kind of comfort in the thought that you can't make them worse。 We're at the bottom of the hill already。 So； if you don't pull us up； at least you won't push us any farther down。〃
〃Oh； I'll pull you up； never fear； but you must give me time。〃
〃Your own affairs are in rather a muddle I reckon； by now？〃
〃Hopeless； it seems； but I'll share with you the few hundreds I still have。 I brought this to…day； thinking you might be in immediate need。〃
As she drew the little roll of bills from her pocket； Will reached out eagerly； and； seizing it from her； counted it greedily in her presence。 〃Well； you're a downright brick； Maria；〃 he remarked； as he thrust it hastily into his shirt。
Disappointment had chilled Maria's enthusiasm a little； but the next instant she dismissed the feeling as ungenerous； and slipped her hand affectionately through his arm as he walked back with her into the road。
〃I wish I could see Molly；〃 she said again； her eyes on the house； where she caught a glimpse of a bright head withdrawn from one of the windows。
〃She is over at her mother's； I told you；〃 returned Will irritably； and then； stooping to kiss her hurriedly； he added in a persuasive voice： 〃Bring the old man to reason； Maria； it's life or death； remember。〃
〃I'll do my best； Will； I'll go on my knees to him to…night。〃
〃Does he dislike you as much as ever？〃
〃No； he rather fancies me； I think。 Last evening he grew almost amiable； and this morning Aunt Saidie told me he left me a pound of fresh butter from the market jar。 If you only knew how fond he's grown of his money you would realise what it means。〃
〃Well； keep it up； for God's sake。 Humour him for all he's worth。 Coddle and coax him into doing something for us； or dying and leaving us his money。〃
Maria's face grew grave。 〃That's the serious part； Will； he talks of leaving every penny he has to foreign missions。〃
〃The devil！〃 cried Will furiously。 〃If he does； I hope he'll land in hell。 Don't let him； Maria。 It all rests with you。 Why； if he did； you'd starve along with us； wouldn't you？〃
〃Oh； you needn't think of meI could always teach； you know； and a little money buys a great deal of happiness with me。 I have learned that great wealth is almost as much of an evil as great poverty。〃
〃I'd take the risk of it； every time； and he is beastly rich； isn't he； Maria？〃
〃One of the very richest men in the State； they told me at the cross…roads。〃
〃Yet he has the insolence to cut me off without a dollar。 Look at this petered…out little farm he's given me。 Why； it doesn't bring in enough to feed a darkey！〃
〃We'll hope for better things； dear； but you must learn to be patientvery patient。 His anger has been smothered so long that it has grown almost as settled as hate。 Aunt Saidie doesn't dare mention your name to him； and she tells me that if I so much as speak of you he'll turn me out of doors。〃
〃Then it's even worse than I thought。〃
〃Perhaps。 I can't say； for I haven't approached the subject even remotely as yet。 Keep your courage； however； and I promise you to do my best。〃
She kissed him again； and then； turning her face homeward； started at a rapid walk down the lane。 The interview with Will had disturbed her more than she liked to admit； and it was with a positive throb of pain that she forced herself at last to compare the boy of five years ago with the broken and dispirited man from whom she had just parted。 Was this tragedy the end of the young ambition which Fletcher had nursed so fondly； thisa nervous； overworked tobacco…grower； with bloodshot eyes； and features already inflamed by reckless drinking？ The tears sprang to her lashes； and； throwing up her hands with a pathetic gesture of protest； she hastened on homeward as if to escape the terror that pursued her。
She had turned from the lane into the main road； and was just approaching the great chestnuts which grew near the abandoned ice…pond； when； looking up suddenly at the call of a bird above her head； she saw Christopher Blake standing beside the rail fence and watching her with a strong and steady gaze。 Involuntarily she slackened her pace and waited； smiling for him to cross the fence； but； to her amazement； after an instant in which his eyes held her as if rooted to the spot； he turned hastily away and walked rapidly in the opposite direction。 For a breath she stood motionless； gazing blankly into space； then； as she went on again； she knew that she carried with her not the wonder at his sudden flight； but the clear memory of that one moment's look into his eyes。 A century of experience； with its tears and its laughter； its joy and its anguish； its desire and its fulfilment； seemed crowded into the single instant that held her immovable in the road。
CHAPTER IV。 The Meeting in the Night
When Christopher turned so abruptly from Maria's gaze he was conscious only of a desperate impulse of flight。 At the instant his strength seemed to fail him utterly； and he realised that for the first time in his life he feared to trust himself to face the imminent moment。 His one thought was to escape quickly from her presence； and in the suddenness of his retreat he did not weigh the possible effect upon her of his rudeness。 A little later； however； when he had put the field between him and her haunting eyes； he found himself returning with remorse to his imaginings of what her scattered impressions must have been。
Between regret and perplexity the day dragged through； and he met his mother's exacting humours and Cynthia's wistful inquiries with a curious detachment of mind。 He had reached that middle