〃He　must　be　perfectly　lovely；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　with　a　grin　at
  her。
  The　girl　laughed　a　laugh　of　such　infectious　jollity　that　Captain
  Jack　was　forced　to　join　with　her。
  〃That's　one　for　you；　Captain　Jack；〃　she　cried。　　〃I　know　I　am　a　pig
  where　chocs　are　concerned；　and　I　do　love　to　drive　a　car。　　But；
  really；　Rupert　is　quite　nice。　　He　is　so　funny。　　He　makes　Mamma
  laugh。　　Though　he　does　tease　me　a　lot。〃
  Captain　Jack　drove　on　in　silence　for　some　moments。
  〃I　was　glad　to　see　you　playing　though　to…day；　Captain　Jack。〃
  〃Where　were　you？　　I　didn't　see　you　anywhere。〃
  〃Not　likely！〃　　She　glanced　behind　her　at　the　others　in　the　back
  seat。　　She　need　not　have　given　them　a　thought；　they　were　too　deeply
  engrossed　to　heed　her。　　〃Do　you　know　where　I　was？　　In　the　crutch　of
  the　big　elmyou　know！〃
  〃Don't　I！〃　said　Captain　Jack。　　〃A　splendid　seat；　but〃
  〃Wouldn't　Adrien　be　shocked？〃　said　the　girl；　with　a　deliciously
  mischievous　twinkle　in　her　eye。　　〃Or；　at　least；　she　would　pretend
  to　be。　　Adrien　thinks　she　must　train　me　down　a　bit；　you　know。　　She
  says　I　have　most　awful　manners。　　She　wants　Mamma　to　send　me　over　to
  England　to　her　school。　　But　I　don't　want　to　go；　you　bet。　　Besides；
  I　don't　think　Dad　can　afford　it　so　they　can't　send　me。　　Anyway；　I
  could　have　good　manners　if　I　wanted　to。　　I　could　act　just　like
  Adrien　if　I　wanted　toI　mean；　for　a　while。　　But　that　was　a　real
  game。　　I　felt　sorry　for　Rupert；　a　little。　　You　see；　he　didn't　seem
  to　know　what　to　do　or　how　to　begin。　　And　you　looked　so　terrible！
  Now　in　the　game　with　Cousin　Sidney　you　were　so　different；　and　you
  played　so　awfully　well；　too；　but　differently。　　Somehow；　it　was　just
  like　gentlemen　playing；　you　know〃
  〃You　have　hit　it；　Patsy；a　regular　bull！〃　said　Captain　Jack。
  〃Oh；　I　don't　mean〃　began　the　girl　in　confusion；　rare　with　her。
  〃Yes；　you　do；　Pat。　　Stick　to　your　guns。〃
  〃Well；　I　will。　　The　first　game　everybody　loved　to　watch。　　The
  second　gamesomehow　it　made　me　wish　Rupert　had　been　a　Hun。　　I'd
  have　loved　it　then。〃
  〃By　Jove；　Patsy；　you're　right　on　the　target。　　You've　scored　again。〃
  〃Oh；　I'm　not　saying　just　what　I　wantbut　I　hope　you　know　what　I
  mean。〃
  〃Your　meaning　hits　me　right　in　the　eye。　　And　you　are　quite　right。
  The　tennis　court　is　no　place　for　a　fight；　eh？　　And；　after　all；
  Rupert　Stillwell　is　no　Hun。〃
  〃But　you　haven't　been　playing　this　summer　at　all；　Captain　Jack；〃
  said　the　girl；　changing　the　subject。　　〃Why　not？〃　　The　girl's　tone
  was　quite　severe。　　〃And　you　don't　do　a　lot　of　things　you　used　to
  do；　and　you　don't　go　to　places；　and　you　are　different。〃　　The　blue
  eyes　earnestly　searched　his　face。
  〃Am　I　different？〃　he　asked　slowly。　　〃Well；　everybody　is　different。
  And　then；　you　know；　I　am　busy。　　A　business　man　has　his　hours　and　he
  must　stick　to　them。〃
  〃Oh；　I　don't　believe　you　a　bit。　　You　don't　need　to　be　down　at　the
  mills　all　the　time。　　Look　at　Rupert。　　He　doesn't　need　to　be　at　his
  father's　office。〃
  〃Apparently　not。〃
  〃He　gets　off　whenever　he　wants　to。〃
  〃Looks　like　it。〃
  〃And　why　can't　you？〃
  〃Well；　you　see；　I　am　not　Rupert；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　grinning　at
  her。
  〃Now　you　are　horrible。　　Why　don't　you　do　as　you　used　to　do？　　You
  know　you　could　if　you　wanted　to。〃
  〃Yes；　I　suppose；　if　I　wanted　to；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　suddenly
  grave。
  〃You　don't　want　to；〃　said　the　girl；　quick　to　catch　his　mood。
  〃Well；　you　know；　Patsy　dear；　things　are　different；　and　I　suppose　I
  am　too。　　I　don't　care　much　for　a　lot　of　things。〃
  〃You　just　look　as　if　you　didn't　care　for　anything　or　anybody
  sometimes；　Captain　Jack；〃　said　Patricia　quietly。　　Then　after　a　few
  moments　she　burst　forth：　　〃Oh；　don't　you　remember　your　hockey　team？
  Oh！　oh！　oh！　　I　used　to　sit　and　just　hold　my　heart　from　jumping。　　It
  nearly　used　to　choke　me　when　you　would　tear　down　the　ice　with　the
  puck。〃
  〃That　was　long　ago；　Pat　dear。　　I　guess　I　wasahvery　young　then；
  eh？〃
  〃Yes；　I　know；〃　nodded　the　girl。　　〃I　feel　the　same　wayI　was　just　a
  kid　then。〃
  〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Captain　Jack；　with　never　a　smile。　　〃You　were　just
  let's　seetwelve；　was　it？〃
  〃Yes；　twelve。　　And　I　felt　just　a　kid。〃
  〃And　now？〃　　Captain　Jack's　voice　was　quite　grave。
  〃Now？　　Well；　I　am　not　exactly　a　kid。　　At　least；　not　the　same　kind
  of　kid。　　And；　as　you　say；　a　lot　of　things　are　different。　　I　think　I
  know　how　you　feel。　　I　was　like　that；　tooafterafterHerbert〃
  The　girl　paused；　with　her　lips　quivering。　　〃It　was　all　different
  so　different。　　Everything　we　used　to　do；　I　didn't　feel　like　doing。
  And　I　suppose　that's　the　way　with　you；　Captain　Jack；　with　Andyand
  then　your　Mother；　too。〃　　She　leaned　close　to　him　and　put　her　hand
  timidly　on　his　arm。
  Captain　Jack；　sitting　up　very　straight　and　looking　very　grave；　felt
  the　thrill　of　the　timid　touch　run　through　his　very　heart。　　A　rush
  of　warm；　tender　emotion　such　as　he　had　not　allowed　himself　for　many
  months　suddenly　surprised　him；　filling　his　eyes　and　choking　his
  throat。　　Since　his　return　from　the　war　he　had　without　knowledge
  been　yearning　for　just　such　an　understanding　touch　as　this　child
  with　her　womanly　instinct　had　given　him。　　He　withdrew　one　hand　from
  the　wheel　and　took　the　warm　clinging　fingers　tight　in　his　and
  waited　in　silence　till　he　was　sure　of　himself。　　He　drove　some
  blocks　before　he　was　quite　master　of　his　voice。　　Then；　releasing
  the　fingers；　he　turned　his　face　toward　the　girl。
  〃You　are　a　real　pal；　aren't　you；　Patsy　old　girl？〃　he　said　with　a
  very　bright　smile　at　her。
  〃I　want　to　be！　　Oh；　I　would　love　to　be！〃　she　said；　with　a　swift
  intake　of　breath。　　〃And　after　a　while　you　will　be　just　as　you　were
  before　you　went　away。〃
  〃Hardly；　I　fear；　Patsy。〃
  〃Well；　not　the　same；　but　different　from　what　you　are　now。　　No；　I
  don't　mean　that　a　bit；　Captain　Jack。　　But　perhaps　you　knowI　do
  want　to　see　you　on　the　ice　again。　　Oh；　it　would　be　wonderful！　　Of
  course；　the　old　team　wouldn't　be　thereHerbert　and　Phil　and　Andy。
  Why！　　You　are　the　only　one　left！　　And　Rupert。〃　　She　added　the　name
  doubtfully。　　〃It　WOULD　be　different！　oh；　so　different！　　Oh！　I　don't
  wonder　you　don't　care；　Captain　Jack。　　I　won't　wonder〃　　There　was
  a　little　choke　in　the　young　voice。　　〃I　see　it　now〃
  〃I　think　you　understand；　Patsy；　and　you　are　a　little　brick；〃　said
  Captain　Jack　in　a　low；　hurried　tone。　　〃And　I　am　going　to　try。
  Anyway；　whatever　happens；　we　will　be　pals。〃
  The　girl　caught　his　arm　tight　in　her　clasped　hands　and　in　a　low
  voice　she　said；　〃Always　and　always；　Captain　Jack；　and　evermore。〃
  And　till　they　drew　up　at　the　Rectory　door　no　more　was　said。
  Maitland　drove　homeward　through　the　mellow　autumn　evening　with　a
  warmer；　kindlier　glow　in　his　heart　than　he　had　known　through　all
  the　dreary　weeks　that　had　followed　his　return　from　the　war。　　For
  the　war　had　wrought　desolation　for　him　in　a　home　once　rich　in　the
  things　that　make　life　worth　while；　by　taking　from　it　his　mother；
  whose　rare　soul　qualities　had　won　and　held　through　her　life　the
  love；　the　passionate；　adoring　love　of　her　sons；　and　his　twin
  brother；　the　comrade；　chum；　friend　of　all　his　days；　with　whose　life
  his　own　had　grown　into　a　complete　and　ideal　unity；　deprived　of　whom
  his　life　was　left　like　a　body　from　whose　raw　and　quivering　flesh
  one…half　had　been　torn　away。
  The　war　had　left　his　life　otherwise　bruised　and　maimed　in　ways
  known　only　to　himself。
  Returning　thus　from　his　soul…devastating　experience　of　war　to　find
  his　life　desolate　and　maimed　in　all　that　gave　it　value；　he　made　the
  appalling　discovery　that　he　was　left　almost　alone　of　all　whom　he
  had　known　and　loved　in　past　days。　　For　of　his　close　friends　none
  were　left　as　before。　　For　the　most　part　they　were　lying　on　one　or
  other　of　the　five　battle　fronts　of　the　war。　　Others　had　found
  service　in　other　spheres。　　Only　one　was　still　in　his　home　town；
  poor　old　Phil　Amory；　Frances'　brother；　half…blind　in　his　darkened
  room；　but　to　bring　anything　of　his　own　heart　burden　to　that　brave
  soul　seemed　sacrilege　or　worse。　　True　enough；　he　was　passing
  through　the　new　and　thrilling　experience　of　making　acquaintance
  with　his　father。　　But　old　Grant　Maitland　was　a　hard　man　to　know；
  and　they　were　too　much　alike　in　their　reserve　and　in　their　poverty
  of　self…expression　to　make　mutual　acquaintance　anything　but　a　slow
  and　in　some　ways　a　painful　process。
  Hence　in　Maitland's　heart　there　was　an　almost　extravagant　gratitude
  toward　this　young　generous…hearted　girl　whose　touch　had　thrilled
  his　heart　and　whose　voice　with　its　passionate　note　of　loyal　and
  understanding　comradeship　still　sang　like　music　in　his　soul；
  〃Always　and　always；　Captain　Jack；　and　evermore。〃
  〃By　Jove；　I　have　got　to　find　some　way　of　playing　up　to　that；〃　he
  said　aloud；　as　he　turned　from　the　gravelled　driveway　into　the
  street。　　And　in　the　months　that　followed　he　was　to　find　that　the
  search　to　which　he　then　committed　himself　was　to　call　for　the
  utmost　of　the　powers　of　soul　which　were　his。
  CHAPTER　II
  THE　COST　OF　SACRIFICE
  Perrotte　was　by　all　odds　the　best　all…round　man　in　the　planing
  mill；　and　for　the　simple　reason　that　for　fifteen　years　he　had
  followed　the　lumber　from　the　raw　wood　through　the　various　machines
  till　he　knew　woods　and　machines　and　their　ways　as　no　other　in　the
  mill　unless　it　was　old　Grant　Maitland　himself。　　Fifteen　years　ago
  Perrotte　h