In the course of the walk she stopped at the shops to see Wayne.

Wayne listened gravely, but did not object.

" Something in the way he was looking at her brought to Katie acute realization of how much she cared for Wayne.

Consciousness of it came now as she seemed to read in Wayne's look that she hurt him in withholding her confidence, in not having felt it possible to trust even him.

"Wayne dear," she said unevenly, "I don't deny there is something to tell.

A young man had entered and was speaking to Wayne.

After a second's hesitation Wayne introduced him to Katie as Mr. Ferguson, who was helping him.

The young mechanic was looking at her gravely, but his look was less strange than Wayne's.

" "Why, Katie," laughed Wayne, "it must be that he's that same mythical creature known as the man who mends the boats.

" "My little boy talks about him," Wayne explained.

"Mama, this is Mr. Wayne," said Mathilde.

"I am very unfortunate, Mr. Wayne; this town is full of my relations, tucked away in forgotten oases, and I'm their only connection with the vulgar, modern world.

"You can't imagine, Mr. Wayne, how much better I dance than Mathilde.

Mathilde was immensely grateful to her mother for taking so much trouble to be charming; only now she rather spoiled it by interrupting Wayne in the midst of a sentence, as if she had never been as much interested as she had seemed.

" Wayne stood up.

CHAPTER II Mathilde had been wrong in telling Wayne that her mother had gone upstairs in obedience to an impulse of kindness.

"I should always assume it in doubtful cases, sir," said Wayne, very distinctly.

CHAPTER IV Wayne was not so prompt as Mathilde in making the announcement of their engagement.

He and his mother breakfasted together rather hastily, for she was going to court that morning to testify in favor of one of her backsliding inebriates, and Wayne had not found the moment to introduce his own affairs.

Mrs. Wayne smiled absently, and put up her hand to the soft felt hat she was wearing.

Though no longer young, she somehow suggested a boya boy rather overtrained; she was far more boyish than Wayne.

"Well, I do know something new," said Wayne.

" Wayne looked down at his mother as she sat opposite him, with her elbows on the table, as keen as a child and as lively as a cricket.

Such a spot, within sight of half a dozen historic sites, was a temptation to Mr. Lanley, and he would have unresistingly yielded to it if Mrs. Wayne had not said: "But we haven't said a word yet about our children.

Mrs. Wayne looked at him reproachfully.