She looked him clearly in the eyes.

"None at all."

"Then I am satisfied to take you without hearing your story until
afterwards."

"But I am not satisfied. If I am to see distrust come into your eyes, it
must be now, not afterwards."

"Then tell it quickly."

He put out his hand and took hers firmly into his own, as if to help her
in her story.

[Illustration]




XI


"My father died when I was only a young girl. We had not much money, and
my mother's older brother took us to his home to live. My mother was his
youngest sister, and he loved her more than any one else living. There was
another sister, a half-sister, much older than my mother, and she had one
son. He was a sulky, handsome boy, with a selfish, cruel nature. He seemed
to be happy only when he was tormenting some one. He used to come to
Uncle's to visit when I was there, and he delighted in annoying me. He