"Well, then," I said, "maybe."

He frightened me, he was so glad. I felt left out. I wished that I was glad like that.

But it was surprising how much more confidence I had in myself after I knew that a man like Mr. Gerald loved me.

"That's because," I said to me, "women have counted only when men have loved them."

And I thought that had ought to be different.


CHAPTER IX

One day toward spring I went down to see Mrs. Bingy. She had three women in her room every day, making the lace. She had regular customers from the shops. When I went in she was in a good black dress and was sitting holding the baby, that was beginning now to talk.

"Oh, Cossy," she says, "look what I got," and pointed to some papers.