It dispelled her fatigue--which throughout the afternoon had been, probably, more of the moral than bodily sort.

Her soul no longer beat its wings against iron bars, fluttered in the meshes of a net; but looked forth shy yet serene, accepting the position in which it found itself.

For Faircloth inspired her with deepening faith.

He needed no guiding, as she told herself; but was strong enough, as his words convincingly testified, clear-sighted and quick-witted enough, to play his part in the complicated drama without prompting.

Hadn't he done just what she asked ?--Stayed until, by operation of some quality in himself or--could it be ?--simply through the mysterious draw of his and her brother and sisterhood, she had already grown accustomed, settled in her thought of him, untormented by the closeness of his presence and unabashed.
And having reached this vantage-point, discovering the weight of the crown dear now rather than irksome, Damaris permitted herself a closer observation of her companion than ever before.