Keith promised faithfully that he would.
That afternoon Terpy knocked at his door, and came in with that mingled shyness and boldness which was characteristic of her.
Keith offered her a chair and began to thank her for having saved his life.
"Well, I am always becoming indebted to you anew for saving my life--"
"I didn't come for that," declared the girl. "I didn't save your life. I just went down to do what I could to help you. You know how that mine got flooded?"
"I do," said Keith.
"They done it to do you," she said; "and they made Bill believe it was to hurt Wickersham. Bill's dead now, an' I don't want you to think he had anything against you." She began to cry.
All this was new to Keith, and he said so.
"Well, you won't say anything about what I said about Bill. J. Quincy made him think 'twas against Wickersham, and he was that drunk he didn't know what a fool they was makin' of him.--You are going away?" she said suddenly.
"Oh, only for a very little while--I am going off about a little business for a short time. I expect to be back very soon."