And into this had been shot--! Katie turned to the intruder.

"It's lovely, isn't it ?" she asked in a queer, hushed way.
The girl looked at her, and at the fierce rush of things Kate took a frightened step backward.

But quickly the other had turned away her face.
Only her clenched hand and slightly moving shoulder told anything.
There was another call to make, and instinct alone could not reach this time.

For the moment thought of it left her mute.
"You have been so kind to me," she began, her timidity serving well as helplessness, "so very kind.

I wonder if I may ask one thing more?
Am--am I keeping you from anything you should be doing ?" There was no response at first, just a little convulsive clenching of the hand, an accentuated movement of the shoulder.