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I had risen and was taking tea in my bed when I heard steps on the porch, and my heart leapt But there was a knock at the door and when Rabbit opened it, I heard Kevin's voice I called to him and he came into the bedroohtly for a moment, then released me I looked up into his face

"It is time for me to return hoone for nearly amy help at Gillean"

"Yes" I looked at the floor, re my father's face the last ti? A letter, perhaps?"

I looked up at hiain "No," I said

Kevin's blue eyesaway

"Wait!" I said "I shall see you out"

I put on a bed gown over my shift and followed him out onto the porch where Saul held his horse He paused at the top of the steps and pulled on his gloves I said, "Pray take care along the road"

"I shall" I could see he wanted to say more

"What is it? Speak," I said

"How is it, then, Jessie," he said, "to have got what you wanted?"

I could not answer him

"You have broken our father's heart, you have shamed our family and Robbie's, you have abandoned your friends-all to satisfy your own desires!" His voice rose passionately

"I did not know that Robbie could be such a fool"

"I love Robbie!" I cried "He loves ives the two of you license to trod over any ould stand in your way, or even advise you!"

"I did not leave home by my own choice! We will return! Our father threatened to take Robbie's child and give it away!"

"He did not know that the child is Robbie's," said Kevin, his voice quiet again "If either you or Robbie had told hie, the honor to speak to our father and tell him, our father would have permitted you to o to Robbie before he could speak to our father," I said "You have not yet loved, Kevin; you cannot knohat it means