Page:The Redemption of Anthony (1911).djvu/61

 played her part in Tony's life, and must she march on now and give her place to—

"Here I am—why, what's the matter, Louise?" he asked in quick alarm.

"Nothing. Why?"

"You look as if you'd seen a ghost."

"I have."

He took her hand with rare tenderness.

"You're overdoing lately. Why don't you let me take you away?"

"I can't. You remember what we were saying the other day about shifting responsibility, and how Nan Crompton hit the nail on the head by saying that I kept my responsibility in school while I preached?"

"Odious woman!"

"But it was the truth, Tony, and now I want to make it up to Priscilla—a little. I'm finding out that the shirked responsibilities are coming back to me doubled."

"She's been talking to me about you to-night. She seems to adore you."

"I know, and I think I'm going to love her better than I have ever loved anything