* * * * * Shaking the snow from her shoulders like a great dog in a storm, Tess knocked softly on the Longman shanty door. Mrs. Longman had gone to the city with Satisfied, and Myra, with the whining brat in her arms, welcomed her.
One whole week had passed since Tess had seen the student--seven long interminable days since--and now she had come to ask Myra Longman some of the mysterious questions about the kiss that Frederick had given her. Myra relinquished the child to her and the little fellow sank to sleep under Tessibel's crooning voice. His regular breathing told her that he slept; she placed him in the box and sat thoughtfully down.
"Air Ben Letts been here lately?" she asked after a pause.
Myra shook her head.
"He ain't got no time for such as the brat and me," she replied bitterly.
Tess waited until Myra had ceased scattering the shanty chairs in her rage.
"Did he say as how he loved ye that night in the storm on the ragged rocks?" she asked presently.
"Yep, he did say it, he did," answered Myra.
"Air he--air he a-knowin'--how to kiss?"
The very word slipping from her lips brought back with a sudden joy that night a week ago, and the never-to-be-forgotten kiss of the student. She could feel again the warm, strong lips pressed to hers--the long muscular arms enfolding her.
Myra scanned her face closely.
"To kiss--yep; but he ain't never kissed the brat."
There was wonderful longing and passion in her tones.
This was a new thought for Tess. The "Pappy" should kiss his brat--but were they one and the same kisses? She remembered the sweetness of that first caress "Daddy" had given her on the stone window ledge of his cell. It was tinged with bittersweet--bitter because Daddy was going away, sweet because she had desired it so fondly. But it had not been like the student's kiss. She was going to ask Myra Longman to solve the first great problem of her life.
"Air the kisses what ye had from Ben Letts--burnin' ones? Did ye lose the thought of the night and the night things on the ragged rocks?... Did ye want 'em again and again--more and more kisses till they scorched yer face like the bread oven in the spring?"
Tess had risen to her feet, had whitened to the small ears covered with the tawny hair. Myra had risen also. Both girls were eying each other with intentness. Tess started to speak again, coming forward a step toward the other squatter.