relented toward his nephew.

Margaret laughed a little; then she cried a little; then she did both

together. Afterward she sat in the firelight, very puzzled and very

excited and very penitent and very beautiful, and was happier than she

had ever been in her life.

"He had it in his pocket," her dear voice quavered; "he had it in his

pocket, my brave, strong, beautiful Billy did, when he asked me to

marry him. It was King Cophetua wooing the beggar-maid--and the beggar

was an impudent, ungrateful, idiotic little

piece