man, and said you were in distress. I helped you as a man. Good-
evening."

"Stay," said Edith hastily. "You seem not only a man, but a gentleman,
and I am tempted, in view of my situation, to trespass still further
on your kindness," but she hesitated a moment.

It perhaps had never been intimated to Arden before that he was a
gentleman, certainly never in the tone with which Edith spoke, and his
fanciful, chivalric nature responded at once to the touch of that
chord. With the accent of voice he ever used toward his mother, he
said:

"I am at your service."

"We are strangers here," continued Edith. "Is there any place near the
landing where we can get safe, comfortable lodging?"

"I am sorry to say there is not. The village is a mile away."

"How can we get there?"

"Isn't the stage down?" asked Arden of the dock-master.

"No!" was the gruff response.

"The night is so bad I suppose they didn't come. I would take you
myself in a minute if I had a suitable wagon."

"Necessity knows no choice," said Edith quickly. "I will go with you