“Aunt Becky, listen to me!” The woman turned her eyes to the speaker, but her thoughts were far, far away.

“I’ll come to you, Gawd hearing me; I’ll ward off the cold and hunger.  I’ll come day after day—­if you’ll leave hit—­where it can’t ever know.”

Suddenly Becky’s face grew sharp and cunning; all that was tender and human in her faded—­self-preservation rose supreme.

“I’ll leave hit, Mary Allen,” she cackled, “but if yo’ tell that hit ain’t in the grave ‘long o’ Zalie all the devils o’ hell will watch out for yo’ soul!”

Mary was not listening.  She rose and mechanically moved about the disordered room.  Like a sleep walker she set the rickety furniture in place; she began to gather scraps of food together—­hunting, hunting in corners and cupboards.  She made some black coffee—­rank and evil-smelling it was—­and finally she set the strange meal before the old woman.

Becky eyed the repast as one might who fancied that she dreamed.  Cautiously she touched the food with her lean fingers, then she clutched it and ate ravenously, desperately fearing that it might disappear.

Mary looked on in divine pity, swaying to and fro, never speaking nor going near.

She was thinking; thinking on ahead.  She would make the cabin clean and whole; she would wash and clothe the poor creature now eating like a hungry wolf; she would feed her.  Becky should become—­hers!

Then Mary’s mouth relaxed.  She was appropriating, adjusting.  Something of her very own at last!  Something that would wait for her, watch for her, depend upon her.  Something to work for and live for; something upon whom she might pour forth the hidden riches that had all but perished in her soul.

It was midnight when Mary groped her way from the cabin.  Becky was asleep on the miserable bed in the corner; she was breathing softly and evenly like a baby.

Outside, the moonlight lay full upon the open spaces and on the little grave under the pine clump.  Mary stood, before entering the woods, and raised her head.

“I’m paying—­I’m paying back what—­I owe,” she murmured, and all the wretched company of her early childhood seemed to hold out imploring hands to her.  Her father, her mother, the line of miserable brothers and sisters who never had their chance!

Sister Angela came, too, her cross gleaming, her eyes kind and just.  Doris Fletcher and her blessed giving; giving of the marvellous chance at last!  And lastly, Nancy, with her beautiful face, Nancy who must not be cheated, Nancy who—­trusted her!  Nancy who might be—­but no!  Mary ran on.  She would not know!  She must not!

And so it was that the last of the Allans redeemed the debt and silently found peace for her proud heart.

She was released!  She had proven herself, though no one must ever know.  It was the not knowing that would mark her highest success.

On the morrow Mary went to Ridge House quite her usual reserved self.