After that there was a long silence in the little room, broken only by the cooing of the baby.  I did not dare to peep in at Miss Sampson then.

Somehow I expected Steele to arrive at that moment, and his step did not surprise me.  He came round the corner as he always turned any corner, quick, alert, with his hand down.  If I had been an enemy waiting there with a gun I would have needed to hurry.  Steele was instinctively and habitually on the defense.

“Hello, son!  How are Mrs. Hoden and the youngster to-day?” he asked.

“Hello yourself!  Why, they’re doing fine!  I brought the girls down—­”

Then in the semishadow of the room, across Mrs. Hoden’s bed, Diane Sampson and Steele faced each other.

That was a moment!  Having seen her face then I would not have missed sight of it for anything I could name; never so long as memory remained with me would I forget.  She did not speak.  Sally, however, bowed and spoke to the Ranger.  Steele, after the first start, showed no unusual feeling.  He greeted both girls pleasantly.

“Russ, that was thoughtful of you,” he said.  “It was womankind needed here.  I could do so little—­Mrs. Hoden, you look better to-day.  I’m glad.  And here’s baby, all clean and white.  Baby, what a time I had trying to puzzle out the way your clothes went on!  Well, Mrs. Hoden, didn’t I tell you friends would come?  So will the brighter side.”

“Yes; I’ve more faith than I had,” replied Mrs. Hoden.  “Roger Sampson’s daughter has come to me.  There for a while after Jim’s death I thought I’d sink.  We have nothing.  How could I ever take care of my little ones?  But I’m gaining courage.”

“Mrs. Hoden, do not distress yourself any more,” said Miss Sampson.  “I shall see you are well cared for.  I promise you.”

“Miss Sampson, that’s fine!” exclaimed Steele, with a ring in his voice.  “It’s what I’d have hoped—­expected of you...”

It must have been sweet praise to her, for the whiteness of her face burned in a beautiful blush.

“And it’s good of you, too, Miss Langdon, to come,” added Steele.  “Let me thank you both.  I’m glad I have you girls as allies in part of my lonely task here.  More than glad, for the sake of this good woman and the little ones.  But both of you be careful.  Don’t stir without Russ.  There’s risk.  And now I’ll be going.  Good-by.  Mrs. Hoden, I’ll drop in again to-night.  Good-by!”

Steele backed to the door, and I slipped out before him.

“Mr. Steele—­wait!” called Miss Sampson as he stepped out.  He uttered a little sound like a hiss or a gasp or an intake of breath, I did not know what; and then the incomprehensible fellow bestowed a kick upon me that I thought about broke my leg.  But I understood and gamely endured the pain.  Then we were looking at Diane Sampson.  She was white and wonderful.  She stepped out of the door, close to Steele.  She did not see me; she cared nothing for my presence.  All the world would not have mattered to her then.