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 was better, or more comfortable, or easier; an' so he was, thank God! bein' in heaven.”

She roused herself wearily, and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Babcock sat motionless.

“Since that I've kep' the promise to me Tom that I made on me knees beside his bed the night I lifted him in me arms to take him downstairs—that I'd keep his name clean, and do by it as he would hev done himself, an' bring up the children, an' hold the roof over their heads. An' now they say I dar'n't be called by Tom's name, nor sign it neither, an' they're a-goin' to take me contract away for puttin' his name at the bottom of it, just as I've put it on ivery other bit o' paper I've touched ink to these seven years since he left me.”

“Why, Tom, this is nonsense. Who says so?” said Babcock earnestly, glad of any change of feeling to break the current of her thoughts.

“Dan McGaw an' Rowan says so.”

“What's McGaw got to do with it? He's out of the fight.”

“Oh, ye don't know some men, Mr. Babcock. McGaw'll never stop fightin' while I