Page:Caroline Lockhart--The Fighting Shepherdess.djvu/143



voice, and gratitude. "I was sure you were true-blue, and I know I'm going to love you!"

Lifting the woman to her feet, with an arm about her shoulders, Kate kissed her impulsively. She was so slight, so crushable, that Kate experienced a sense of shock as one does when he feels the bones of a little bird through its feathers. Her frailty appealed to something within the girl that was like masculine chivalry, awakening a de- sire that was keener than ever to protect and help her, while, as before, Mrs. Toomey felt the magnetism of the younger woman's health and strength and courage. Nevertheless, she was panic-stricken at what Kate was taking for granted and her quick little mind was darting about like some frightened rodent from corner to corner, thinking how she was going to disentangle herself from the situation with the minimum of hurt to the girl's feelings.

There was a suggestion of her former buoyancy in Kate's manner. Her eyes had something of their old- time sparkle as she reached inside the blousing front of her flannel shirt and laid in Mrs. Toomey's hand a packet of crisp banknotes secured by bands of elastic. "You see—I've kept my promise."

Mrs. Toomey stood motionless, staring. "Why! Where did you get it?" when speech came back to her. "That's my secret," Kate replied, gently. "But it's yours to use as long as you need it."

Without warning, Mrs. Toomey burst into tears. "I c-can't help it!" she sobbed on Kate's shoulder. "It's so—unexpected."

Relief was paramount to all other emotions, but she vowed as she wept that she would show her gratitude, and would be Kate's friend as she had promised, and she

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