"You and I, dearest," said Franklin finally, "you and I together, forever and ever. We'll live at the Halfway House. Don't shiver, child; I've built a fine new house there—"
"You've built a house?"
"Yes, yes. Well, I'll confess it—I bought the place myself."
"Then it was your money?"
"And it is your money."
"I've a notion," began Mary Ellen, edging away, biting her lip.
"And so have I," said Franklin, stooping and kissing her fingers with scandalous publicity. "I've a notion that you shall not speak of that. It is ours. We've more than a thousand acres of land there, and plenty of cattle. Curly shall be foreman—he's married the little waiter girl, and has come back to Ellisville; they live next door to Sam and Nora. Aunt Lucy shall be our cook. We shall have roses, and green grass, and flowers. And you and I—you and I—shall live and shall do that which has been sent to us to do. Mary Ellen—dear Mary Ellen—"
Again the girl threw up her head, but her pride was going fast.
"Then—then you think—you think it is no sin? Is there no lapse in this for me? You think I shall not be—"
Franklin drew her closer to him. "That which is before us now is
Life," he said. "Dearest, how sweet—how very sweet!"