all of us," she added.

Respect was an instinct with Gifford, and he did not stop to think that
it was a lesson by which Miss Deborah would have no opportunity to
profit.

But he was not listening closely to the chatter of the little ladies; he
was thinking of Lois's indifference. "She even looked bored, once," he
thought; "but that does not necessarily mean that she cares for Forsythe.
I will trust her. She may never love me, but she will never care for
him."




CHAPTER XIV.


The feeling in Lockhaven about Helen Ward's unbelief was not confined to
Elder Dean; for every one who knew Mrs. Davis knew what the preacher's
wife thought of Tom's salvation, and judged her accordingly. As for the
widow herself, the hope Helen had given her quite died out under the
fostering care of Elder Dean. She grew more bitter than ever, and refused
even to speak on the subject.

"No, ma'am," she said wearily, when Helen went to see her after the
funeral,--"no, ma'am, 'tain't no use to talk. Elder Dean's been here, and
I know there ain't no good hopin'. Even the preacher don't say there's
any good hopin'. What you said was a comfort, ma'am, but 'twasn't true.
'Twasn't religion. It's in the Bible that there's a hell, and there's no