Page:The Star in the Window.pdf/326

316 ring on Reba's left hand, lying in front of her, as she leaned forward, supported by her elbows.

"Yes, I'm married, Cousin Pattie."

"Hattie Miles told me. Seafaring man. What's he like, Reba? Tell me. They were awfully close-mouthed about him up at the house, just now. You know what Augusta is—I couldn't get any satisfaction."

"They don't know much about Nathan up at the house," Reba answered. "I don't know very much about him myself. My marriage," she added, "was sort of a leap in the dark."

"Oh! I see—leap in the dark, was it? Sudden affair! And you haven't struck bottom yet, eh?"

"Not the bottom of my marriage. But I've struck some bottoms," said Reba.

Cousin Pattie let the words sink in a moment. Then, "Well—what if you have?" she snapped back. "Pick yourself up and go along! 'In spite of'—'in spite of'—you know."

Reba shook her head.

"I don't know that I think much of that motto of yours, Cousin Pattie."

"That so?" surprised, the challenged woman queried.

"Not to pass around to everybody. It's dangerous. It's so likely to back-fire."

Cousin Pattie surveyed her with deepening interest. A new Reba indeed who conversed in similes, and looked enigmatical!

"What did my motto do to you, Reba?"

"It wasn't your fault, Cousin Pattie," Reba replied. "You gave me the instructions how to use it. I ignored them, that was the trouble. You told me that just so