A Troubling of the Water:

to protect her child any way I can. If the Master does go back across there to meet her I must tell him what I think about it.”

Overhead in his room, Eric was walk- ing about whistling. Presently he came downstairs, thinking of the orchard, and the girl who would be waiting for him there.

As he crossed the little front entry he heard Mrs. Williamson’s voice calling to him.

“ Mr. Marshall, will you please come here a moment? ”

He went out to the kitchen. Mrs. Williamson looked at him deprecatingly. There was a flush on her faded cheek and her voice trembled.

“ Mr. Marshall, I want to ask you a question. Perhaps you will think it isn’t any of my business. But it isn’t because I want to meddle. No, no. It is only because I think I ought to speak. I have thought it over for a long time, and it

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