“What do you hear of Lou Willis?” asked her mother after a moment.  “That poor girl who was arrested for stealing jewelry.”

“She has just come back from serving her sentence,” was Faith’s answer, “and Mr. Denton is considering whether he had better reinstate her.”

“It will be a great risk,” said Mr. Watkins, soberly, “for ’what’s bred in the bone will come out in the flesh,’ unless, of course, the spirit of Christ takes possession of the body.”

“We hope it will,” said Faith, almost cheerily, “and then Lou has had a fearful experience—­she may be different altogether.”

“And Miss Dean,” suggested Mrs. Marvin, in a reminiscent manner.

Faith laughed a little before she answered.  “She finds nothing to do in the store now,” she said, “but we still differ a little in our notions and theories.”

Mrs. Marvin left the room a few minutes later.  Whether it was done for a purpose or not, Faith did not have time to conjecture.

“Faith, dear Faith,” whispered Mr. Watkins, quickly, “am I never, never to hear your answer?”

He bent toward her so pleadingly that Faith closed her eyes instinctively.  It cut her to the heart to have to witness his sorrow.

“I have loved you so long, so patiently, dear!  Can you not give me some hope, even though it is for the far-distant future?”

“I cannot!  Oh, I cannot!” murmured Faith in agony.  “Oh, I wish I could, Mr. Watkins, but it is impossible!  I cannot love you!”

The young man rose without a word and took his hat from the table.

“Good-night, Faith,” he said, gently.  “Good-night, little sister!  Don’t worry about me!  Some day I will get over it!”

He went silently away without waiting for Mrs. Marvin.  Faith breathed a sigh of relief that her sad duty was over.

“You have refused him, Faith!”

Her mother spoke softly.  “Poor fellow!  I am sorry, but you know your own mind, darling.”

They sat down again and Faith took up a book.  A peal at the bell made her drop it suddenly.

A few moments later young James Denton entered.  He was taller, broader and deeply bronzed by travel.

“At last, I see you again,” he whispered softly as soon as Mrs. Marvin had left them together.

“Tell me of your travels,” said Faith very quickly.  The color had risen to her face and her heart was beating wildly.

“Well, I went all over Europe and the Continent,” he said wearily; “but a year is not long enough for a fellow to down a bad reputation!  I have come back to find myself in contempt, the same as before, but I have decided that I shall not run away again.  I am going to try and live down what I could not run away from.”

Faith looked at him questioningly, but did not speak.  The young man understood the glance and hurried with his explanation.

“I am going to work in the store with my father now,” he said, quietly, “and I am going to put in a small sum of money that has come to me in the past year from a distant relative.”