“Yes, I believe he has admitted that she is really his wife, but the poor girl has demanded that the marriage be annulled.”

Faith looked up eagerly, but she could not frame her question.

“She has been praying, she tells me,” said Miss Fairbanks, continuing, “and she says it is her duty to give Jim up, for to live with him would be wicked when he does not love her.”

Faith heard only the first words that Miss Fairbanks had spoken.  Poor Maggie had been praying; then her heart was softened.

“She is out, you know, and free as air,” continued Miss Fairbanks, “but she is not coming back to the store.  Mr. Denton has made her an allowance.”

“And you, Miss Fairbanks?” asked Faith, very softly.  “Are you praying, too, or is it not yet the Lord’s time?  I am anxious for you to be happy in the ‘light of His countenance.’”

Miss Fairbanks laid her hand upon the young girl’s shoulder.

“Thank God,” she said devoutly; “at last I am praying.”

As Faith moved on toward her counter she saw Miss Jones waiting for her.  There was something in the girl’s manner that struck Faith as unfamiliar.

“Miss Marvin,” she said, the moment Faith stepped behind the counter, “I am a rude, treacherous person, and I have wronged you cruelly!  Have you the grace in your heart to forgive a traitor?”

Faith grasped her hand, while the tears sprang to her eyes.

“There is nothing to forgive, dear Miss Jones,” she said, gently.  “We have been sisters from the first, only you did not understand it; but tell me, is it through Miss Fairbanks that you feel so differently?”

“Partly through her and partly through Mag Brady,” was the honest answer.  “Mag has told me how you talked to her, and she also told me what her husband said, that it was through your influence that he was now willing to own her.”

“Did Mr. Denton say that?” asked Faith, speaking slowly.

“He did,” said Miss Jones, promptly, “and Mag just blesses you for it.”

If Faith had felt one misgiving over that particular action, it vanished now like a bit of vapor.

Mag “blessed” her for the words that had hurt her so to speak.  Surely there was balm for all wounds, even those which burned the deepest.

Faith’s morning was the happiest she had ever known in the store and at the luncheon hour, as she went to the cloak-room, she had but one wish in her heart, and that was for the conversion of wicked Lou Willis.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Lou is caught at last.

As Faith passed Mr. Denton’s office on the way to the cloak-room she heard a woman’s voice raised to a very high pitch, and immediately recognized it as belonging to Miss Willis.

She had hardly had time to wonder what had occurred, when the door flew open and she had a good look right straight into the office.