without another word, he turned on his heel and left her.

Lois drew a long breath as she heard him slam the front door behind him,
and then she sat down on the rug again. She was too angry to cry, though
her hands shook with nervousness. But under all her excitement was the
sting of mortification and remorse.

Max, with that strange understanding which animals sometimes show,
suddenly turned and licked her face, and then looked at her, all his love
speaking in his soft brown eyes.

"Oh, Max, dear," Lois cried, flinging her arms around him, and resting
her cheek on his shining head, "what a comfort you are! How much nicer
dogs are than men!"




CHAPTER X.


Dr. Howe, with no thought of Mr. Forsythe's unceremonious call at the
rectory, had gone home with Mr. Denner. "One needs a walk," he said,
"after one of Miss Deborah's dinners. Bless my soul, what a housekeeper
that woman is!"

"Just so," said Mr. Denner, hurrying along at his side,--"just so. Ah--it
has often occurred to me."

And when the rector had left him at his white gateway between the