give hit hit's chance--then the curse will be broke."

There was pleading, renunciation, and command in the guttural voice:

"Becky, I will promise to help you. If there is a child and you renounce
all claim to it, I will find a home for it. It shall have its chance.
And now sit here and rest--I am going to bring some food to you."

Sister Angela arose and passed from the room. The doing of the kindly,
commonplace thing restored her to her usual calm.

She was not gone long, but when she returned, bearing the tray, Becky
had departed and the chair in which she had sat was still swaying.




CHAPTER III

"_I brushed all obstructions from my doorsill and stepped into the
road._"


It was just after sunset the following day when Jed turned from the Big
Road into the River Road and thanked God that the next five miles could
be made before early darkness set in.

Beside him sat Meredith Thornton, white lipped and wide-eyed, and her
aristocratic bags rattled around in the space behind.