a widow when I was a baby. Later, some years after, she married
Tom's father."

"Oh--then he's not even your half-brother?"

"He's no relation at all--and much older. When Tom's father died
my mother made Tom, manager, and still later he was appointed my
guardian."

"Then you own Belle Plain?" and Carrington sighed.

"Yes. You have never seen it?--it's right on the river, you
know?" then Betty's face grew sober: "Tom's dreadfully queer--I
expect he'll require a lot of managing!"

"I reckon you'll be equal to that!" said-Carrington, convinced of
Betty's all-compelling charm.

"No, I'm not at all certain about Tom--I can see where we shall
have serious differences; but then, I shan't have to struggle
single-handed with him long; a cousin of my mother's is coming to
Belle Plain to make her home with me--she'll make' him behave,"
and Betty laughed maliciously. "It's a great nuisance being a
girl!"

Then Betty fell to watching for the lights at New Madrid, her
elbows resting on the rail against which she was leaning, and the
soft curve of her chin sunk in the palms of her hands. She
wondered absently what Judith would have said of this river-man.
She smiled a little dubiously. Judith had certainly vindicated