Her lips formed the single word of denial.

He gazed at her in silence for a moment.

"I'm going to accept the post you just offered me, Miss Orr; at any
salary you think I'm worth," he said gravely.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Steps and the sound of voices floated across the picket fence. The
gate rasped on its rusted hinges; then slammed shut.

"If I was you, Mr. Elliot," came the penetrating accents of Mrs.
Solomon Black's voice, "I should hire a reg'lar reviv'list along in
th' fall, after preservin' an' house-cleanin' time. We need an
outpourin' of grace, right here in Brookville; and we can't get it no
other way."

And the minister's cultured voice in reply:

"I shall give your suggestion the most careful consideration, Mrs.
Black, between now and the autumn season."

"Great Scott!" exclaimed Jim Dodge; "this is no place for me! Good
night, Miss Orr!"

She laid her hand in his.

"You can trust me," he said briefly, and became on the instant a
flitting shadow among the lilac bushes, lightly vaulting over the