VALLEY

"Una's mind.with the child.UNA VISITS THE HILL 333She must be perfectly frank and sincere"Una, dear," she said softly. "It isn't because ofyou poor little souls that I cannot be your father'swife. I never thought of such a thing. You are notbad I never supposed you were. There there wasanother reason altogether,Una."how nice he is."Don't you like father?" asked Una, lifting reproachfuleyes. "Oh, Miss West, you don't knowI'm sure he'd make you a good husband."Even in the midst of her perplexity and distressRosemary couldn't help a twisted, little smile."Oh, don't laugh, Miss West," Una cried passionately."Father feels dreadful about it.""I think you're mistaken, dear," said Rosemary."I'm not. I'm sure I'm not. Oh, Miss West,father was going to whip Carl yesterday Carl hadbeen naughty and father couldn't do it because yousee he had no practice in whipping. So when Carlcame out and told us father felt so bad, I slipped intothe study to see if I could help him he likes me tocomfort him, Miss West and he didn't hear me comein and I heard what he was saying.I'll tell you, MissWest, if you'll let me whisper it in your ear."Una whispered earnestly. Rosemary's face turnedcrimson. So John Meredith still cared. He hadn'tchanged his mind. And he must care intenselyhad said that care more than she had ever supposedif he