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."
"But are you not afraid you will lose it?" asked Faith, a little shyly. "You know you always had grave doubts as to the financial results of your father's undertaking."
"Well, what if I do?" asked the young man, smiling back at her. "Others have done as much, and I can but follow in their footsteps, and then reformation to be acceptable should not be half-hearted."
There was a light in his eyes that was not to be mistaken. As Faith beheld it she uttered a cry of joy and held out both hands toward him impulsively.
Young Denton gathered both her hands into one of his own, while his other rested lightly upon her shoulder.