you how clever and beautiful they were, but you never asked and my
pride was up in arms. A man should stand by his own flesh and blood,
even if it isn't attractive; that's what I believe."

"I know, I know! But I've had no feeling for three years. I've been
like a frozen man, just drifting, trying to make both ends meet, my
heart dead and my body full of pain. I'm just out of a hospital--two
months in all."

"David! Why didn't you let me know, or send for me?"

"Oh, it was way out in Missouri. I was taken ill very suddenly at the
hotel in St. Joseph and they moved me at once. There were two
operations first and last, and I didn't know enough to feed myself
most of the time."

"Poor, poor Buddy! Did you have good care?"

"The best. I had more than care. Ruth Bentley, the nurse that brought
me back to life, made me see what a useless creature I was."

Some woman's instinct stirred in Letty at a new note in her brother's
voice and a new look in his face. She braced herself for his next
words, sure that they would open a fresh chapter. The door and the
window were closed now, the shades pulled down, the fire low; the hour
was ripe for confidences.

"You see, Letty,"--and David cleared his throat nervously, and looked
at the coals gleaming behind the Hessian soldiers,--"it's a time for a
thorough housecleaning, body, mind, and soul, a long illness is; and