Clara Lotttsr iSttrnbam. DEARLY BOUGHT, if.mo, NO GENTLEMEN. 161110, A SANE LUNATIC, 1(11110, NEXT DOOR, i' mo, 1.25 : THE MISTRESS OF BEECH KNOLL. paper, 50 cents. MISS BAGG'S SECRETARY. if-mo THE V^ISE Vv'OMAN. IMI MlSS ARCHER ARCHE R. A GREAT LOVE. A Xovc A Great Love BY CLARA LOUISE BURNHAM BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGIITON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY 1899 fOFYIUGHT, 1>!W, r,Y CI.AHA T.oriSE BURMU1I ALL EIGHTS IltSEKVEU CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. A CLAIM OF FRIENDSHIP ..... 1 II. Miss GAYLORD 12 III. THE CARRUTHS 27 IV. Ix THE Music ROOM ..... 44 V. SOCIETY 61 VI. A XKW LEAF ....... 7(> VII. A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 95 VIII. CONFIDENCES ....... 113 IX. Miss BEEKE'S QUEST ...... 131 X. Miss GAYLORD RECEIVES . 147 XL DOUBTS AND FEARS ...... 1G1 XII. THE CONCERT 174 XIII. VACATION 192 XIV. CLIFF XEST 200 XV. SUMMER DAYS 220 XVI. THE BETRAYAL 238 XVII. MOTHER AND CHILD 255 XVIII. BY THE SEA 273 XIX. THE ONE QUESTION 288 XX. AT SUNSET 303 2200G38 A GREAT LOYE CHAPTER I A CLAIM OF FRIENDSHIP IN his bachelor apartment in Boston, Willarcl French lay on the divan, reading. By an original arrangement of cushions his heels were nearly as high as his head, and his body, as it hazily appeared through the cloud of smoke that embowered it, de scribed a semicircle. The early winter afternoon was dark, and a drop-light cast its beams upon a page that absorbed the young man so that in his luxurious comfort he failed to hear a knock at his door. It was repeated, and at last reached his consciousness. " Come in," mumbled the reader along his pipe- stem. Instead of obeying, the unseen applicant made a louder plea for entrance. It was Sunday afternoon. French could name with approximate certainty the visitor who might be seeking him. " What 's the matter with you ? " he roared, dropping his book. " Come in ! " The door opened, and as the clearing haze revealed the feminine form that confronted him, French bounded into the middle of the floor. pipe in hand, and stared helplessly at the middle-aged and disgusted face regarding him from under a tightly-curled brown coiffure. The newcomer was dressed in rich fabrics, but she wore ear-rings \vith drops, and solid bracelets encircled her gloved wrists, in a dav when such ornaments were usually relegated to packing-boxes. "How do you do. Willard French? I'ugh ! How it smells in here ! " The young man dropped his pipe on the man telpiece and shook hands mechanically. * It IK smoky. Miss Beebe." he said apologeti cally. "Shan't I open the window ?" suiting the action to the word. Both windows : do. - so a body can breathe. AVhat do you suppose the inside of yonr lungs looks like ? " 'I can reply with devout gratitude that I don't know, and am not likely to until the X ray is improved upon. My bones are all right, though." he added, smiling at his guest and offering her tin- most comfortable chair in the room. I "ve seen some of those myself. \\ ell. it s a long time since I "ve met you. There was a period when we were not such unusual Sunday afternoon compan ions." u Willard," said Miss Beebe, returning his look earnestly, * you were the smartest and the most mischievous boy in the whole Sunday-school. A CLAIM OF FRIENDSHIP 3 The velvet shoulders of the young man's jacket shook. " I give you my word, my first thought when I saw you just now was, ' Xo card to- day ! ' The visitor nodded her head reminiscently. " I 'm afraid I gave you a picture card a great many times when you did n't deserve it," she said seriously. " My winning ways, eh? " "No, you were a scamp; but," thoughtfully, "your nails were always so clean." " Xot my fault, you may be sure. How 's everybody in Springdale ? " " Everybody 's well. Why don't you ever come back and see us ? " " Labor, Miss Lu. Have to keep my brow in a chronic state of perspiration." " Nonsense ! " " Thanks for your sympathy. How did you find me, if I may ask ? " " Why, you ain't hiding, are you?" Miss Beebe smiled into his smooth-shaven face. "Well er not exactly; but I always cal culate to shove a few things under the divan and dust the tea-kettle before I entertain ladies here." " Oh ! you don't mind me, Willard ! You bet ter shut those windows, I guess." " Whose lungs are catching it now ? " he asked, as he obeyed. *' Better nicotine than pneumonia, eh ? " 4 A CRl'.AT l.OVr. \o\v come here and sit ome one to speak to at meals, sonic one to post her letters for her. you know the many little tiling that come up in bad weather " ^ es. I know, groaned French. " 'I hen if she should be ill in the ni^'lit. some one that she would feel a riu'ht to call upon and send for the doctor, or anything like tiiat. All little things, yet making such a difference in a girl s comfort. I 've no doubt she d lie happ\ to mend your clothes in return, and it would be very nice for you. No, thank you. Miss IVebe ! with sudden spirit. "No ji'irls rummaging' around my room in the daytime, if YOU please! 'I hen with a change of tone: "Mrs. Carruth is the person to attend to this, take my word for it. She "11 know all the best boarding-places. She 's a complete directory in herself." "No. \Yillard. I'm capable of doing without Mrs. Carruth. In fact. I have already succeeded. I saw your landlady before I came to you. and luckily she is about to have a room vacated. It A CLAIM OF FRIENDSHIP 7 is just the tiling for Althea ; right next to yours, which Mrs. Barlow said was fortunate, for then, you being away all clay, the piano won't disturb you." u If it does, I can move ! " remarked French doggedly. lie had been entertaining visions of bribing his landlady to have no vacant rooms, but now saw escape in that direction cut off. " I 'in sorry you don't cooperate with me more cordially," said Miss Beebe, with gentle reproach. " I looked for better things from an old friend." " You see when a fellow 's so busy " began her host. u Althea will be a stranger here," pursued Miss Beebe accusingly. " Dear me ! " she rose sud denly. " It 's dark as night already, and there are the most awful things in the paper about peo ple being held tip before six o'clock ! " ' I '11 walk over to Mrs. Carruth's with you," said French. " That 's a good boy," responded his friend gratefully. " You see," she continued, as they went out of doors together, "if 't was n't for Pa, I 'd come to Boston and stay with Althea myself. I should admire to spend a winter here, but 't ain't fair to try to move Pa at his age, so I 'm tied right to Springdale. Then even if he could come, I should n't be free to leave him and go around with her nights, the way you can." " Indeed I can't ! Don't think that for a 8 minute," returned French warmly. The fact that they were on a public highway freed him from the restraints of hospitality \vhich a little while ago had coerced him. ' Kverybody s busy here. Ask Mrs. Carruth if I 'm likely to ha\v time to he at your protegee's Leek and call. Come now. Miss Beebe. you don t know what you re talking about! " ' I trust you. \\ illard. I 'ye known you, boy and man. for tweiity-fiye years,'' returned his companion, with unmoved complacency. and 1 Lave a ]>ride about discussing the matter v. ith Mrs. Carruth. She neyer has had cause. I believe, to consider her old school-iriend a hanger- on, and she neyer shall. Kmeline s been loyalty itself to me always, in fact she has to all her old Springdale connections, and I should n't be sur prised if she would take Althea right into her own splendid house for the winter if I should ask it ; but I wouldn't do it for the world. \\ hy. Mrs. Carruth would remember Althea's mother ; she was a Springdale girl too. "Well, I' re no pride about discussing it with her,'' remarked French coolly. ' In fact, I shall regard Mrs. Carruth in the light of a life pre server." Miss l^eeLe appeared to see no threat in this. " Yes, she agreed cheerfully, * if anything should happen to Althea more than ordinary, you could always consult Mrs. Carruth." A CLAIM OF FRIENDSHIP 9 The stare which her companion gave her passed unnoticed. " What a fine girl Margaret has come to be ! I hope she and Althea will l>e great friends." " Humph ! " returned French non-committally. " Why, you think they will, don't you, Wil- lard?" " How should I know? " " Well, Margaret Carruth 's a kind, friendly girl, is n't she? " u Sometimes." " Dear me ! Why, she always seems so attrac tive ! " " Oh, yes, she 's that all right. There 's a slight mistake in spelling her name. It ought to be M-a-g-n-e-t ; but then, there are some clods that don't feel a magnet's attraction, you know." " Well, you 're polite ! You can stop calling Althea names right now ! " Here a man advancing in the electric light lifted his hat at sight of French. " Why, it 's Vandyke ! " said the latter, stop ping and extending his hand. " Miss Beebe, let me introduce Mr. Vandyke. Won't you turn around and join us ? Mr. Vandyke is a new comer in Boston, and I have been telling him he must meet Mrs. Carruth. We are on our way there now, Vandyke. Won't you come ? " " Thank you, but I have an engagement already at the house of one of your friends, Mrs. Dar- ling." 1 "Oil, yon Imvc ! " French laughed, ;mhe had not pleased anybody but herself. In the iirst place. Miss (iavlord felt that she OUi^'ht to have been permitted to uo \\ith her and make her own arrangements for her winter cam paign. She did not sav so. liowever, tor Mrs. (iavlord. \\hile accustomed and resigned to beiu^ the victim ot her daughter s independence, per haps l>einj>' even a little [)roud ot it. ([iiestioned its effect ii])on her friends in the more conserva tive Kast. and had exhorted Althea to be gently subject to whatever dictum the Heches chose to issue. "The Heches had lieen so often quoted to the ( i;'irl after her mother decided to let her ^'o to Bos ton, that for Althea the title acquired a vast sii;- niiicance. "NY hen she arrived at Spring-dale and found this potent and awful family to consist of a superannuated gentleman with an overdressed elderly daughter, living quietly in an old-fashioned bouse, her surprise \\as ^reat. but unexpressed. MISS GAY LORD 13 Miss Beebe approved the fastidious neatness of the girl's dress, the smoothness of her imcrimped hair, the demure look in her young faee, and the alert, observant expression of her eyes ; but the good lady would have been electrified if she had known the effect produced upon the newcomer by the long-respected house of Beebe. DEAR MA, I'm here all right (wrote the girl), but I should die if 1 had to stay in Spring- dale long. According to what you besought me to do, I practiced talking to the porter all the way on without using any slang. 1 think I improved him very much by my conversation. So far I haven't frightened anybody here. I shouldn't talk at all, to be on the safe side, if I were n't afraid of going to sleep and snoring, if I kept per fectly still. Miss Beebe is awfully kind, but she 's such a moss-back, she would n't let me go to Bos ton with her to make my arrangements. She does n't seem to think I 'm able to do anything but sit in a high chair and beat the table with a rattle. Such a funny back-number as she is ! But she 's as kind as she is fussy, and I shall not forget it, etc., etc. Mrs. Carruth, while her friend Luella was with her, perceived the burden of concealment the lat ter was carrying ; but not until the hour of her departure did Miss Beebe explain herself. 11 " I have n't told you my errand here, Emeline, because I did n t want to trouble vim, she said impressively: but you remember Lix/ie Stewart, who used to go to school with us 7 Mrs. ('arruth replying vaguely. Miss Heche con- tinued : "She married a (iaylord and went to Deliver to h\'e. Her daughter is coming to Bos ton to studv music, and I undertook to make the arrangements. I determined not to trouble von, and I haven't, have I ? " triumphantly. " No : !mt I 'm glad vour mv.->terioii> prome nades have meant nothing worse. I thought it von had a trouble so deep that vou could n t explain it to me. tilings were indeed going i!! with yon." " Now, Kmeline. you have n t worried v 1 tried to do every tiling for the best, and 1 \e got board for Althea in the house with \Yillard French, and 1 know you'll befriend her if anything comes up : but still, I don t want vou to feel anv burden about her. She's a sensible, he MISS GAY LORD 15 finished, " except renting your piano. I thought most likely you 'd rather pick it out yourself." " That was very thoughtful of you, Miss Beebe," returned the circumspect Althea, whose wings began to flutter like those of the caged bird who sees a chance of escape. " Xow I 've told you not to appeal to Mrs. Car- ruth unless it 's necessary. You must let me help you as much as I can at this distance ; but you understand about the Carruths, don't you ? " Althea nodded, and groaned in spirit. If she did not understand, it was not from any failure on Miss Beebe's part to enlarge upon the riches, the position, the importance, and the responsibilities of the Carruths, mother and daughter. " And oh ! I forgot to tell you about Mr. French ! I selected his boarding-place for you on purpose, so that you should n't be alone in a strange land." " But I like to be alone," said Althea restively. " If I did n't, I should n't have left home." Her speech was always deliberate, with a reposeful sort of drawl which amused her hostess. " Yes, my dear, I know ; but you have n't tried it, and in case of sickness " " In case of sickness I don't know what a man could do for me." " Why, go for the doctor, of course, or any other errand you need done." Althea smiled. " What sort of disposition has Mr. French?" 16 'A <> > oo'ood. Miss Beebe, and provided for every possible emergency. T feel that each day that passes now liefore I yet to my work is so much time wasted, so I think 1 'd better go rig'lit on to Boston, if you don't mind." MISS GAY LORD 17 " "Well, my dear, please yourself. You must write to me soon. I hope you and Margaret Car- ruth will be great friends ; but still, you must n't expect anything 1 , for she is HO sought after ! My ! " Miss Beebe clasped her ringed hands and cast up her eyes to convey how totally words failed her. " If she only could understand that all I want is to be let alone ! " thought Althea, drawing exul tant breaths when she found herself on the train speeding toward the longed-for haven. " AVhat do I care for her old Carruths ? I guess I have friends of my own, even if I did n't choose to tell her about them ; but I don't mean to look Molly up. I 'in going to be a hermit just as long as it amuses me. That poor Frenchman ! I wonder if he thinks I'm like Luella? , It wouldn't be such bad fun to pretend I was ! But no, Althea, no tricks. You 're not off on a lark. This is a business trip." She had in her purse an elaborate description of the car which would convey her to Mrs. Barlow's boarding-house, but after standing on the sidewalk in front of the Boston and Albany Station and watching the cars go by until her brain reeled and her arm ached with the load of her heavy bag, her patience evaporated and she decided to take a cab. As she approached the vehicle, a man darted out from a side entrance to the station and hur ried toward the same conveyance, so that at the IN .1 <;J:KA'J i.nvi: carriage they met. He started, drew hack, and raised his hat. murmuring an apology. Then quickly perceiving ihe \vciglit of her bag. Allow me." he said, and taking it. politely held open (he carriage door, just as the driver was jumping down from his liox to perform the same office. Althea thanked the stranger with a characteris tic little off-hand nod. Tell me what I ought It- pa v him. will von'/ she asked. It depends on where vou arc going." replied the man. Althea looked younger than her twenty-one years, and the heavy l>ag had paled her cheeks. I have the address right here, she said, open ing her purse. Her face grew blank as she searched from com partment to compartment in vain. " Why, what an idea ! I had it. I 'in sure 1 had it when I started. Why" the girl became suddenly conscious that she was detaining a stranger in her service as porter. u Oh, excuse me ! Please put down that grip. Thank yon. 1 m sorry to have troubled von. 1 shall have to go and look in a directory." She stepped out of the cab. and the driver's face fell. lie touched his hat to the young man. " Shall I wait for you and the lady, sir. or shall I drive you over to the drug-store for the directory '/ " The stranger was still holding Althea's ba. slammed the door, and tlie\ stalled oft' at a rattling pace. 'What does this mean?" exclaimed the girl, dismayed. I know \\here the place is." replied her com panion. * But why are you coming 1 too? " - Because it is my duty. was the response. accompanied by an amused smile which was far from reassuring. All sorts of vague terrors raced through Althea s brain. All the grim stories of tragedies in the great cities, all the hints of pitfalls that await voung girls, took the strength from her limbs. The clean-shaven lace she had thought so trust worthy took a sinister aspect iu her eyes. Her heart beat in her throat. t- If yon are a gentleman, you will stop this <'iib ! " she said breathlessly. MISS GAY LORD 21 Immediately her escort put his head out the window and gave an order. The cab drew up by the sidewalk. " Thank you," said the g'irl, in surprise and relief. ' Now leave me." 1 " But I want to go to Mrs. Barlow's too. It will save a lot of time for me. I gave up the cab to you ; you might be generous/' Her hand sought the carriage-door, and her escort saw it tremble. His manner suddenly changed. He lifted his hat courteously. "Par don me. Miss (-raylord. I didn't mean to startle you. I live at Mrs. Barlow's, and you are ex pected.'' Althea regarded him wide-eyed and bit her lip. She made an effort to regain her sang-froid. " Dear me ! " she said at last. " I wonder if you 're the Frenchman ? " " I am Willard French, at your service." " At my service ? So I 've understood. So you were just too late to catch your train out of town. Poor man !" " What do you mean ? " " Why, of course I expected you would go, after Miss Beebe told you her plans for making home happy for you." " Not at all," returned French coolly. " I am living up to all the requirements. I met you at the station, did n't I ? " " I shall never like you," remarked Althea. "That grieves me: lut hadn't we better let tins man L;'<> on '/ \\ hv. ot course! '1 hei'e is no sen>e in stav ing here all diiv ! ^ on Frightened me nearlv to death. Do von know it 7 " she added, \\hen they were once more under \va\'. I apolo^'i/.e humbly. I pon my word. 1 do. "\ our baLi' is reven^in^ vou. It is Iviiu; on mv toot. Do von always read ^neh heavy book's. M!>s ( ia\ lord 7 lie stooped and removed the offending satchel. The heaviest one in there is a harmony book. 1 in ^oiiiii 1 to study harmony. Are von musi cal ? " Very." I m so idad ! Do von plav or snie;. or Itoth ? " No. I don 1 >inu' : but I used to piav a little on the jews-harp. said French modestly. * \\ ell. that "s better than the other kind of a harp, /think.' rejoined Althea coolly. " I don t see any sense in the harp. Kind ot a halt-baked tiling anv\vav. Always looks to me like a urand piano with its clothes off. and sounds like one. Miss (iavlord ! \\ here is your poetry'/ Oh. I m about as poetical as you are musical, 1 i^'uess. \\ hv did yon say vou were musical '/ " Because I must ^et back into your ^'ood graces somehow, after making you believe that I was abdnctliiii' you. JfISS GAY LORD 23 " First impressions are strong," admitted Althea. "Do you go to the Symphony Concerts?" French hesitated before replying. lie might be expected to sacrifice an evening every week to escorting this feminine-looking, brusque, blunt paradox of a girl. " Sometimes," he replied cau tiously. ' Oh. cheer up ! '' remarked Althea, her serious countenance breaking into a smile. u My tickets are for the matinees." 'Miss Gay lord ! " protested French, coloring. " Don't cheat yourself.'' remarked the girl non chalantly. " I 'in always able to see through a millstone, whether it has a hole in it or not, and that OIK; was dead easy. However," she gazed portentously at French, and spoke with impres sive slowness, " in case of illness, as Miss Beebe informed you, you will be expected to hustle." " She did n't put it that way, exactly." ' I suppose you, are n't afraid of slang, are you ? " Miss Gaylord's tone changed to one of curiosity. " I know that east of the Alleghenies it is against the law for women, children, and idiots to hear slang, and I 've swallowed so much since I came to Springdale that unless I am allowed to work some of it off, there 's no telling but you will be called up in the night, though I 'm never ill in Colorado, at home in God's country." The girl suddenly turned her head aside. French felt sympathy for her probable homesickness. I hope \<>u wont lie, here. lie remarked rat her hunt'] v. Nat urallv von do. she answered in her n-nal tone. "Thai s one tiling I decided vou would lie <>X)O(1 for. though, as soon as I heard of von. I thought von would make a ;_^ood satet v-valve \\hen I found invseii drowning in Itlne lilood. or trans fixed hy eye-classes. Pardon the mixed metaphor. \ on don t we;; r eye-classes, do von?' Sometimes. French drew a pair from an inside pocket and put them on. \\ hen 1 wi>h 1o intimidate \ on. I shall. Miss ( iavlord shrilled her shoulders. -Men never intimidate me. I)on t Hatter yourself. French smiled, hut forbore trom reminding her of the scene a few minutes aii'o. "Olu sav ! she added anxiously, "put me on to tin- ( 'arrnt ii>. will \ on ''. " \ Ie raised his eyebrows. Pshaw! she ejaculated. 1 leave it to you if it isn't better to say it that way ? Don't we l\uow that time is jnonev? Listen here: Mr. French, will von kindlv describe for me the char acteristics of the Carruth tamilv. that 1 mav know what to ex])ect when I meet them, and ma \ govern niv behavior accordinglv? ' Miss (iavlord v;ave a C'^l* '' exhaustion and leaned back in a corner of t he cab. l - I ] rel'er that putting from your sweet lips. fail- lad\." MISS GAY LORD 2o " Gramercy, Sire. Go on, then. I should judge from Miss Beebe's description that Mrs. Carruth was a cross between a Hindoo idol and a Florence Nightingale, and that Miss Carruth was in danger of sprouting- a pair of wings and leaving an earth too earthy for the touch of her number fives." " They are the most charming people I know," said French gravely. ' Oh ! Is that what you call a description ? " u But you wih 1 see them so soon," suggested French. " Not unless they see me first," returned Althea, with conviction. " You must understand even in this short time how we should hate each other." ' The Carruths could n't hate; anybody." " Fishes ! I knew it ! Well," with a change of tone. " I shan't have any time for society, 110 time at all. You have n't an idea how I 'm going to work." " That 's the right student spirit," remarked French encouragingly. It was a statement he heard with an unbreathed sigh of relief. " I 'm going to make Dad glad he knows me when I get back." " Bravo ! " " And I 'm going to talk to Ma in nothing but words of four syllables." " You can practice on me any time." " So you see I shan't have time to philander." Kvidentlv. ' "I in lint, even in>niii' In limit up the people here tluit ! do like." ^ on ha\'e friends here, then'.' Freiiel) told himself that lii> prospect- were brighten ill ti'. ^ es. one at lea-t. 1 here \\a- a Boston la.lv I met at ( 'olorado Springs. I tell vou. she uas a corker! No eve-classes about her. \\ell. she was really a New York u'irl. but her husband 's a Boston iii;!ii. I don t think she liked him aii\ bet- ter tor that, either. Hie \vas awtullv nice to inc. Mrs. Darling \\as her name. Mollv Darling', we all eallcil her. I think she M like to see me." French bit the end oi hi- tnn^ur in his ^uddcn determination iml to disclose hi> acipiaintance \\itli the vivacious Moil\ : and altlionuh Ins sec ond thought was one ot amusement al lh.' unard- ianship implied hv this rcscr\ al ion. he did not chanii'c hi> mind. The cab drew up before a house in a stone block. Here we are." he remarked. '"Mrs. Harlow '11 be frightened. She'll think you're brin^'iu^' homo your bride, said Altliea. in lier nonchalant drawl. M\ bride shan t pack anv such ba^ a-> tin- for me to carry." re])licd I'Vc-nch. as he helped her out. '* See how wise am not to marry vou ? I'eturned Miss (iavlord calml\. CHAPTER III THE CAKRUTIIS "WOMEN were always aware of Burton Vandyke if he was in the room with them, and it had piqued Mrs. Darling to feel that on the two occasions of their meeting he had been only half aware of her. So, as even on a cursory view it was evident that he would he a creditable addition to her train, she asked him to Sunday afternoon tea. If the young 1 lawyer from Philadelphia did not admire her at the tea-table, those poetical eyes of his belied him. and his density would be scarcely worth enlightening. She sat opposite him to-day near the open fire in her charming apartment, in a violet gown deco rated with gold that matched her hair, and drank from a violet cup with gold bands, looking at him as she talked, to see if his appreciation of sympho nies in color was sufficient to repay her for arran ging them. Vandyke was very comfortable. The room was not hot, and the tea was. lie enjoyed the picture presented by his pretty hostess, and he wondered vaguely why French had chuckled over the fact of his invitation. No doubt Mrs. Darling was much admired; Imt their \v;is ;i Mi-. Darling. Van- dvke. iu his Kvsteiuatic fashion, had taken menial uoles concerning the new friends he was making, and lie renienil >ered 1 Ins. 1 have not vet had the pleasure of meeting your husband, he remarked. No. replied Ins hostess. "The pleasure of meeting Mr. Darling in Boston is a very spasmodic one. He has to travel a great deal. lo-dav. I believe, he is in your eitv. \ andyke sighed. I envv him." " \\ hat an nngallant s])eeeh ! said ln^ hostess. smiling archly. " \\ hat a >tupid ! " she wasthink- mg. "Let me render good for evil in another en]) o! tea. It /* good. >he continued, \vith a prettv air of vanitv. even if we re not in Phila delphia.' Her guest smiled. " It is perfect." he responded. 'Are von really homesick, Mr. \ and vice 7 she went on. after he had taken the iv-filled cup : and her tone invited confidence and promised the sweetest sympat hv. No. I m onlv a >t ranger here with a strong attachment for mv native eitv. I can L >av tor my home. That was broken up long ago. I>ut you have brothers and sisters':'" " Not a sister. I wish I had. "Then there is some one there dearer than a sister, else yon wouldn't be sighing for the pro vinces in the hub of the universe. Conic, con fess." THE CARRUTIIS 29 Vandyke met her direct, smiling gaze with one as direct, but grave. " There are no ladies in Philadelphia who make better tea than this," he said, then drank. Mrs. Darling tossed her fluffy head. " You evidently have not come to the point of needing a confidante," she remarked. >k When you do, I am ready. The fact is. 1 m such an experienced repository for secrets that if it were n't for my shocking memory I should be in danger of some thing or other on the brain. Why. even Marga ret Cairuth confided in me the other day of course you have met the CaiTuths." ' No, not yet. I wish to do so. Mr. French lias promised to take me to one of their Friday evenings." " My Imsband is a relative of the family, and one of Mrs. Carruth's ardent admirers. He says her at-homes are so really homelike that they are irresistible. Mrs. Carruth's pose, you must know, is tin 1 unconventional." u Yes ; I have been told that even the most for mal functions at her house are relieved by a cer tain informality." " Indeed they are ! Of course, Mrs. Carruth can do what lesser lights would not venture upon. I was telling Willard French the other night that I never go to one of her evenings without expect ing to see her bring out the darning-basket, and he said that if he only might put his socks in it, 30 lie wished she would. That is all you men cure tor the conventionalities of life ! Vandyke nodded as he set his teaeii]>on a little sta'id. " I o a man conscious ol his own Mitine>s and inajititiule tor society, all that sounds very attractive, lie returned. \\ ell. he has sense enough to know it. anv- \vay." thought Mrs. Darling. ' What nonsense !" she said .lightly. "No. gravely. "1 seem to have l:een study ing all my life, and I like 'books." And 1 suppose you thought that in coininj* to Boston you had found an intellectual heaven : and here you are. drinking tea with poor lit;!" me. \\lio does n't know one liook from another ! I he hostess s merry lauu'li made her guest smile. \\ ho is posing now. Mrs. Darling? Here is one of my Itest friends, and the ".ues! took from the table a copy of The Intellectual Life." " ( )h. that is some of my hnshtind's propeily that has st raved in here. "You would better make it> acquaintance, now it has come. I assure you. yon never entertained a ^uest who would lietter re|ay you." Iveallv ? " doiditfully. \\diy. it is only a lot of letters! I glanced at it while I was waiting for \ou. Beside, decidedly. Boston, moi'e than any city in the country. need> a numl)er oi i-on- seientiously ignorant women to maintain some sort of balance. Don't tempt me. I will give you a THE CARRUTHS 31 feast of rarebit and flow of tea whenever you like, but for the other sort you will have to go to well, say to the Carruths'." * I fancy he will get on with them swimmingly," she yawned to herself, after he had taken his departure ; then she brightened, for a couple of young men were announced, to whom she gave an enthusiastic audience in the interests of a cotillion which was to be danced for charitv during the *j following month. A few days afterward, as Mrs. Darling, in the snuggest of tailor gowns, was tripping down Wash ington Street, she was accosted and stopped by a girl whom at first she did not recognize. " What luck ! " exclaimed Althea. " If I had tried to find you it would have been like hunting for a needle in a haymow, and at first I made up my mind I would n't, for I thought I 'd work bet ter if I did n't know anybody here ; but it 's sort of forlorn, after all, and a familiar face looks so good. How are you, Molly, asthore?" Why, it is Miss Gaylord," returned Mrs. Darling, without enthusiasm. " Xo wonder I did n't know you at first, so far from home." Her tone was an antidote to cordiality. Althea felt flung back upon herself with a shock. "What are you working at, pray?" went on the elder woman. " The piano," replied the girl, with a change of manner. " I dare say you 've forgotten my ambi- tion to conic to Boston for my music." The effu sive promises which her volatile friend had held out in the event of >uch a possihilitv were still vivid m the vouiiv; -irl s mind, and now returned va-uelv and annovin^'lv to Mrs. Darling. " Yes. you did spealv of it. Well. I - m -lad you could carrv out vour plan: luit I m sure you 11 ^'et tired of bein^ 1 so fur irom home. \\ hep are you slaving ? "Oh. in a hoarding-house up/ near tin- library. I'eplied Altliea. her careless tone covering a proudly Ix-atin", 1 heart. " And then I said -ood-by and left her." Miss (iavlord told Krencli that niuht in the parlor after dinner, where she \\as -ivin- him an account of the meeting, --and she never tried to detain me. or asked me my niimher. or anything 1 . "JI m! grunted Fi-ench sympathetically. I It- saw liv Alihea's expression that she \\as not nearly thron-h. and that there was no need tor him to say anvt hin- as yet. And if you knew the Avav that woman used to 'o on over me at the Spring's, and the promises she made if I ever came to Boston ! I introduced her to a lot of people, she liked, and she made use of me and our carriage to her heart s content. Oh! it makes my blood boil to think of it ! At first this afternoon when she was -,o cool. I thought she was hurt that i hadn't let her know I was coming! Althea -ave a hitter little !au-h. THK CARRUTHS 33 " No, it was just because she did n't want any responsibility of a lonely girl. "Well, Ma '11 be glad, and so will Dad. They didn't like her goings-on at all. I tell yon," Miss Gaylord paused, and gave a little solemn, worldly-wise wink, which always amused French, even while he wished she would n't do it, ' that woman is a terror ! She liirts like everything ! " Small loss, then," said French. " What did you say her name is ? " " Darling Mrs. Darling." "Blonde?" " Yes ; natural, she says. I '11 believe it to accommodate her." " Mrs. Darling is a friend of mine," remarked French quietly. 'Oli, M/// / " ejaculated Althea, dismayed. ' Xo harm done," said French. " There is too, harm," returned Althea indig nantly. "Did you think she was a terror, be fore ? " " Oh, Miss Gaylord ! " protested the young man. " Well, perhaps she is n't, in Boston. Any way, I was a jay to say so much before I knew. You must n't think any the less of her. Now, promise me." French gave the speaker a kind, ironical smile. " You are afraid you have injured the lady ? That is nice of you." ' Jt "s only deeent ! " Hashed Althea. I ou^l"- to have thought : i.iut it "s so hard not to have anybody to boil over to. You must remember I was angry. I used to think Mrs. Darling was fine, and she 1 -- .--he fixed a hat tor me OIK-'. I'm- ished the girl, trying desperately to produce facts to counteract the harm she mi^ht have done. That's all right." said 1'Yeiich consolingly, It's to-morrow you dine at the i 'arrutle-.'. i.- n't it '.' Well, don't speak ol' her there, for she is a connection of theirs." ^ ou don t suppose I m i^oing (irfrund talking about lier. do you':'" retorted the girl \\armly: then the voung face became dejected. ' !)<> vou think Mrs, Carruth will i'eel it her duty to ask me there much ? " she added. - I m sure she 11 let von d as \ with a solemn good night, and he was a terror. I meant that she was vain and flighty. ^ on understand, don t yon ? French assured her that lie understood. 1 he picture of Althca. honest, transparent child as he was discovering' her to I/e. posing as the defender of Molly Darling, touched his sense oi humor. The next afternoon found Miss (iavlord in an irre])ro:iclial)le continue, with a tiii'litly-rolled uiuln'clla in a hand cold irom a]>]>reheiiMon, a]>- proacliin^' the C'arrutli mansion. To the C.'jiri'Uths h"r advent \\a> one of the events in the series of the day's dntie>. Mother and dauj^'liter had her ticketed as one ot the nn- nieroiH individuals who had a claim upon them. 1ml up to the hour of her arrival tliex had not had time to think a.liont her at all. Nevertheless, they always had their data read\. and as soon as Miss (iavlord was announced. Spring la le. Denver, and Miss Ieel>e succeeded the interests of the reception they had that day ^'iven for a strange pianist who was seeking a foothold in the eit V. Althea. waiting in a cosy reception-room whose eal>inet of rich and strange enrios Deemed to menace her with an air ot alien erudition, was still cold of hands \\hen a ^irl itiit little oldei' than herself entered and came toward her with a ^reet- THE CARRUTIIX Ji " Mother will be here at once, Miss Gay lord. She was called to the telephone just before you came in. Telephones are slave-drivers, aren't they?" " Yes, but they are a great convenience,'' re plied Althea, always slow of speech, but now determined to take plenty of time for each plati tude. " Pooh ! Miss Carruth is n't such hot stuff," she was saying to herself uneasily, under the kindly directness of Margaret's gray eyes. " I understand that in the West electrical con veniences are more common and less expensive than in the East, that all the small towns have them." " Yes, they do." " That is quite different from Xew England, you know. Ah, mother is released," added Mar garet, as a lady entered the room. Mrs. Carruth' s frank face, under its smoothly parted hair, wore a little smile of welcome as Althea rose to meet her. " AYe were sorry not to find you the other day, Miss Gay lord. I wanted to make sure that you were comfortable in your new quarters, but now you will tell us all about it, and we can become acquainted." Althea went upstairs with them to take off her hat and jacket, and Mrs. Carruth continued : " I am told that your mother was a schoolmate of mine. It must have been in our childhood, for I don't remember her ; but I think Spring-dale folk should CIIIILV together, whether they lie birds of a tea! her or not." \\ li\ should I he afraid of these people'/" thought Althea stonily. "They're a u'reat de;d plainer ;n their \vavs than Mrs. Darling'.'' Mi-- (iavlord s lather was a rich man. and .-he \vas accustomed t< luxuries. I here \\a~- a uilter- ence here, however, and the \\e-tern i^irl !iad eves to perceive it. She resented while she wondered at the fact that these two women, in the iine sim plicity ot their house dress and the refinement and frankness expressed in each one of their attitudes and words, should lie objects of awe to her. \\hiie their home seemed as naturally their rich and nulije setting a> if it had ^TONYII into liein^ to suit their need--. Birds of a feather, indeed! Althea only \\ished >lie were a lurd. How qr.icldv >he \\onld fly out oi this atmosphere,! She called it ]>ro--\". "I low do yon find it at Mrs. I'mrlou s?" asked Mrs. ('arrnth. when the three were au'ain down stairs, silting around an open lire. '1 he lights were turned low. The hostess perceived that a little effort wonld lie required to lircak down the burner alioiit thi> sh\'. stiff stranger. a;:d this \\as one of her ways and means. It does very well," replied Althea. I>nt \o;i should lie reallv comfortable. Mr. I'reiich j^'ives the house a jj'ood word: lni a man s requirenionts are different." THE CARRUTIIS 39 ' ; Yes, lie likes it. You know, Miss Bool>y Oh" Althea's very ears grew crimson in the merciful twilight, " I meant to say Miss Beebe truly " Mrs. Carruth laughed. " That is all right, my dear. I'm sure you did." " She has been awfullv kind to me," exclaimed Althea, '* and I sliall always thank her, even if she did tell Mr. French I don't know as it 's worth speaking of, lint she told him to take care of me. Such ro so needless, yon know, and yet I would n't hurt her feelings for anything in this world ! " ' I understand," said Mrs. Carruth kindly. " I think Miss Beebe imagines that Mr. French is still a boy. I 'm sure you find him a kind friend, though." " Oh, yes," returned Althea virtuously, sure here of her ground. *" lie 's awfully particular." ' Particular in what way ? " ^ Oh, talks to me so formally at the table, and won't come into my room, and everything like that. You know I have a folding-bed and my piano, and some pictures around, and it 's a very decent sitting-room ; and yet Mr. French won't come in there and sit down. I tell him he must read columns of advice to young girls in ladies' jour nals." Here the speaker noted that Margaret Carruth, sitting on her mother's other side, changed the position of her hand-screen. A hot suspicion Hashed tliroiiL p ,h Althea. Supposing this cool, high bred e;:rl \vith tin 1 i !;< >!>-dn i id eyes were iaueJmiL:'. not wit ii. luit at her ! Mr>. CaiTiith s])okc at oner: "Does it happen ihat von h.ave no friends in P>oston except, our selves?" Miss (iavlord's honestv made her hah a sec ond, even in her ein!)arrassinen1 : in;' de "idin;^ i!i:it Mrs. Darling' could not in anv sense lie con sidered a friend. -die replied m tiie negative. ^ on are here ior the sake o| studying iiie piano, are nt von? a^ked Margaret, and her pleasant voice had no hint ot a. l.iii^li. \\ ho is vonr teaehei 1 '.' Altiiea mentioned a \vell-kno\vn name, and Mar- Avill enjov him. 1 lia\c studied \\ith him. Me is a pupil of Ivaif." \\ iio is that '/ I)ecansc 1 ']] -n to him if he's anv better. Kail' is in r>er!m. -Oh. yes." Althea h'aned l.aek a^ain. - If I do well here. I think Da my father will let me p) o\ 'el 1 t here later. ^ on are vei'V nr,i<-li interested, then '.' Yes." returned Mis-. ( ia\ mrd. not trusting her nnridv tonmie to venture lir\'oiiil the nionosvllaltle on a snliject ii]>on which her ieeliiij^'s mi^ht carry her away. Ai'ler dinner she asked Margaret to play to THE CAHRL'TIIS 41 her ; but despite the beauty of music and perform ance, she did not lose that peculiar combination of constraint and oppression commonly supposed to compose the sensations of a fish out of water. Mrs. Carruth had some needlework in her hand by a lamp-lit table, when the guests of the evening 1 began to drop in. At first the comers were old friends, and they clustered about her in social fashion, while the girls remained in the music-room, where Margaret observed that Althea's impassive face; seemed at last to drop its mask and gain expression for the first time. That day Burton Vandyke had received a note from Mrs. Darling suggesting that as she was going to the Carruths' that evening, and as AVil- lard French was a will-o'-the-wisp whom no sane person would be beguiled into counting upon, wouldn't Mr. Vandyke like to accompany her, etc., etc. Mr. Vandyke would and did, and as Margaret Carruth came to the close of Chopin's rippling Fantasie Impromptu, both girls recognized a sweet shrill voice talking in the next room. " Cousin Emeline, I have brought you a willing captive," it said. " I can't do anything with him, and you will understand it when I tell you that he likes ioo/'.s- / " Both girls could picture the bewitching airs which accompanied this speech, though neither suspected the other's thoughts. Althea's face hardened a^ain. ;uul the warmth in Margaret s died out. A man'.- voice followed : * I like a great mam' other things too, it said: and in a minute Mrs. C'arruth came into the niusic-rooui. accompanied hy a 1all stranger in \vliose eves was a kindlv. ea^er look ot expectancy, as ot one who iinds him self crossing 1 the threshold of an anticipated plea sure. ]\Iargaret. 1 want to introduce Mr, Vand\ke to von. Mv daughter. Mr. \andvke: and our friend. Miss (iaylord, \vlio is studying inu--ic here. ' It was von I heard playing, then, he -aid to Althea. regarding her with a concent rat i< .n oi inter est whose life she cut short. " Nd indec-d ! It was Mix-, ('ariiit'li. He al)Tii])tly turned to Margaret. " Must you sto])? for she was leaving the piano. No indeed ! Don t stop. tan 1 , pale Margaret ! How do yon do this evening v Mrs. Darling glided forward and kissed Aiix- Carrnth s cheek. My cousin pla\s divinely. Mr. Vandyke. I can't appreciate half the things she does. Imt then. von know my conscientious scruples against learn ing- Why. Miss (iaylord !" The speaker suddenly discovered Althea. who had lieen accidentally screened from her l,>v \ an- dvke's broad shoulder, and she stopped stock-still in gemtine amazement. .Her thoughts flew svuttly enough, however. THE CARRUT1IS 43 To be or not to be as cool as she had been yes terday that was the question. "You know Miss Gaylord?" said Margaret, with surprise ; then turning toward Althea with a smile : " I understood you to say you had no friends in Boston." " Yes, that 's what I said," drawled the girl. " I met Mrs. Darling last year during her Western trip, and I remember her perfectly ; but I had no idea her memory would be so good." There was a sudden sound of coughing at the door of the music-room. Willard French had arrived in time to see this meeting, and he retreated momentarily. Althea recognized and followed him to a remote quiet corner of the hall. "Bravo!" said French. "It's a fine com mand of language you have, Miss Gaylord." She looked up at him. " I 've been, talking that way three and one-half hours," she declared, with impressive slowness. " I 'in nearly dead! " "Do you mean to come often?" inquired French, highly entertained. She closed one eye with the utmost gravity. "Not 011 your tintype ! " she returned. CHAPTER IV !\ TilK .Ml s!< -i;< )( ).M MRS. DAKLINU looked after Althea as .-lie left the room, a good deal taken aliack lv the id'Ts 'promptness in liecomhiL;' mistress of the situation. Then she turned to Margaret. " ^ our mother s fondness for picking r,]) . urio-> leads her to great lengths, it seems to me. I low does this wild and woolly specimen happen to he here ? " Miss Carnith flushed. "Miss (lavlord i- our c U'ne>t. she returned, in a simple and imi'cl inking 1 manner whicli \ andvke noted. So I see; hut how does it happen?" pursued Mrs. Darling 1 , with a frank impertinence ail her own. " She comes, introduced to us hy our old friend, Mi IWW 1 he other lailii'hed. \\ hat an amusing 1 com bination ! Althea (Javlord and the fair Liiel'a ! "Well, it s very astonishing to find the girl here. She and her people v.'ere very civil to me at ( -Do rado Springs." added the speaker carelessly. I must talk with her later on. Meantime Willard French had introduced Althea IN THE MUSIC- ROOM 45 to a number of liis acquaintances, and in spite of her despairing 1 glances had left her tete-a-tete with a woman physician who wore spectacles. He found Mrs. Carruth disengaged for a moment. " What is your verdict 011 Miss Beebe's protegee? " he asked. The hostess regarded him thoughtfully. ' Poor little thing ! " she said compassionately. ''Why?" asked the young man, with genuine curiosity. I believe she is homesick without being willing to confess it. Don't you think so ? " " 1 hadn't perceived it.'' " She could n't be so shy and stiff and given to monosyllables otherwise. She seems a very self- contained, reserved girl." French nodded. '' And you pity her because you think she is uninteresting ? I see." " I pity you too, a little," said Mrs. Carruth, with a significant smile. '* Because I am uninteresting?" French reflected the smile. " Of course I don't know how much responsibil ity you feel in the matter," added his hostess. u It does n't weigh on me. Miss Gaylord is great fun." " Great fun ! " repeated Mrs. Carruth. " Why, Willard ! Your taste must be changing ! " He laughed at the blankness of surprise in her face. " You don't know her yet," he remarked. Evidently - for I know YOU. \\ dl. I mii-t reconstruct mv lir-t nnpivs-.ion. Mrs. (';irr;,ih turned to where Althea. unadantable, bore.!, h- !>>- ^' Stai ISl iCS concern ing a stone which, tunning ;it sonic period l'>. ( '.. liad come down through the eentui'ies to rest in A! rs. ( 'arrnt li s cabinet . French followed her glance and laughed auain. - a chuckle of such hearty appreciation that Mr--, ('arrutli regarded linn, mystiiied. \ on evi dently know sonic yerv u'ood joke. \\ illard." she said at last. It' \oii arc n t rcal\ to sluirc it yet, tdl ineit you know anything alioul thai hei'oie- lookinu' creature Mrs. Pai'liiiL;' ha> hroiiu'ht us. \ andyke ''. \ cs. I meant to hrini;' him ni\- selt' to-ni^lit. 1'ii! Mrs. Darling u'ot ahead of me. lie has letter.-- of nit rod net ion Irom Philadelphia. and has settled here. He is a lawyer, and has a first-rate position with a corporation, and is p>ini;- to make' a success of it. In the little I ve seen ot him he seems to want to lie sociable, without exactly knowing how. I )ocs n't smoke, lor instance - mistake mindter one. Grave, sort ot a chap, and watches people closely, as it he were studying a lesson. Is that the way you do it '.' he seems to he saving. I fancy he hasn't pmc about much. \\'ell. he has fallen into the hands oi somebody who will show him the ropes. .Mrs. t'arruth returned the humorous "lance IX THE MUSIC- ROOM 47. thoughtfully. One saw tlie power of a leader in her face when she looked thus. " If his appearance does ii't helie him, he will not lie easily influenced," she remarked. " Except a lorn; 1 lines where he wishes to be led," added French. " You say he is really unsophisticated in super ficial things ? " u Oh well, he knows which fork to use ; but one can see he has taken himself seriously always, and kept his brain busy. lie doesn't dance, for instance." * Then Mrs. Darling will not have much use for him," suggested Mrs. Carruth. " Humph ! Have you happened to notice his eyes, or his walk, or the set of his head on his shoulders? Mrs. Darling is a connoisseur." u Let us not leave him to her, then, TVillard and we mustn't talk about her," said Mrs. Car- ruth hastily. French smiled reminiseently. " Miss Gaylord knew Mrs. Darling in the West, and happening to meet her on the street here yesterday, the latter snubbed her, and just a minute ago your shy little friend got back at her in great shape there in the music-room." Mrs. Carruth looked surprised, then nodded. "It is just as well. It would n't be good for any girl who is studying to be sucked into the Vortex of Molly's gay life. Willard," she paused, regard hi", iinn scrutini/hiLi'ly, and speaking in ;i clian"'c(l tone. " how docs Margaret look to i> O you 7 - I have n't spoken to hcf yet to-nig'ht. V\ hy ? She 1-as u*t been ill. has she?" No. not ill." \\ hv. \vhat do von mean. .Mrs. Carruth ? asked tiie yonii;. 1 ' man. \\ith concern. -Magnet has aluavs lieeii mv ideal of jierh-ct physical '.>al- ance." 1 !o\v much oi' ii is self-control that i> the (juestion? \n\\ kno\v \vhal she has always wished. .A mistaken, mistaken ideal. I am sure oi it. it isn't all selfishness in me 1o refuse. No vonn;^ iH'irl ean appreciate the exigencies, the sacrifices, the lii'e entails: \'et mv Ii!'" i-- so hound ui> in Margaret s 1 torture myself at tiine^ with (jties- tions - and when 1 see her le ami less inclined io sin Li'. 1 1ear it mav mean a deep concealed senti ment which miu'lit - ( )h. I am foolish aiioui if. I hope. 1 think her \ouiiLi' friends can jud^e Letter than I it' she is in a natural, happy stat' 1 Forget this. \\"illard." The s\\ilt. agitated speech came to an end. and troubled lines e;ave tlie frank face a careworn look that suddenly a^'ii it. French tried to con ceal his surprise at the unusual outbreak. I assure you. 1 have not noticed anything. Mrs. ('arruth. Magnet is generally considered to be one of the IneUii'st. happiest ^'ii'ls in town. ' IX Till-: MUX1C-ROOM 49 " Oh, that is what I want her to be ! Tell me if you ever remark anything' which looks other wise. Thank you, AVillard." She pressed his hand suddenly and hurried away to greet a guest who had just entered. AVilhml met Althea's eyes. Her stony glance turned to one of appeal. He lounged up to the group of which she was one, and after a few words succeeded in disengaging her from the toils. " A friend in need is a friend indeed,'' she said, as they moved away. kt I 've been associating with Moses so long 1 that to get with a man a little younger makes me feel less like a mummy. How soon are we going home ? '' '" Oh, not for a long time," returned French placidly. " Let us see what is going on in the music-room/' " I don't want to go near Mrs. Darling." " That won't do. You have begun nobly with her. Don't show the white feather ! " The idea ! " Althea moved along beside him. " If you think I am afraid of her ! " " Very well, then. I want to look after my friend Vandyke." "My! Isn't he swell!" observed Miss Gay- lord. " I want to be sure he is being taken care of," added French, " but I hear Miss Carruth playing to him." "You think you do," retorted Althea. " Wait a minute. I want to make a bet. \\ hat 'II von bet Mr. Vandyke isn't sitting in that little corn r seat under the palms with Molly I ).'.'" U A box of candy. He isn't that kind. lie- side, he is music-mad." "Oh. you poor infant! As if he could help himself! Don t yon know her? ww \Yell. rather." said French, nettled. -I sat under the palms with her mv>e!f before yon were born." (Jo to ! " retorted Althea. But it was because I wanted to. -lu-T r mem ber thai." k - I sn])])ose Remember that is Bostonese tor * Don't yon forget ir.' \\ell. don't ijnn forget that chocolates are mv lavonte candv. ('oine now. since seeing; i> believing." They ad\ anced to the door of the inii-ic-room. .Mavii'aret was at the piano, over which uas lean- in i;- a man. Lia/ini; appreeiat iyely at the s;itisf\ in^ lines of her face and figure ;is th.e music rolled from under her hand- without apparent effort. The lashes veiled her darkening eyes, an occa sional stress of feeling pressed closer her full. curved lips. Her attitude oi power mid repose enchained the watcher : but he \\ as a well-knov. n painter of the city, and not \ andyke. Miss (Javlord triumphantly followed Frenc!f> reluctant u'axe t() the reinole>t corner, \\iiei-e. palm- shaded. Mrs. Darling wielded her fan, her eves /A r THE MUSIC-ROOM 51 upon the young lawyer, who, close beside her, allowed his distrait glance to wander from the ceiling to the piano. One hand was in his pocket. lie seemed absorbed. " There ! " exclaimed Althea. The music ceased. Margaret's lashes lifted, and her gaze, full of suppressed lire, went toward the cosy corner. Vandyke's dreamy glance left the ceiling, dropped straight upon hers, and remained fixed, lie rose with a sudden movement. " There ! " ejaculated French. k ' Whom did I say she was playing to ? '' " The candy 's mine. Where did I say he was sitting ? " " Oh ! you shall have the candy," said French loftily. Then he advanced to the piano. " One more, Magnet, won't you ? " he said, adding his plea to that of the others. " Xo more," she returned firmly, her smile bril liant from the emotion of her music. She rose. " There are too many people coming in. It would be like the vague irritation of an orchestra at a reception." " Then sing," pursued French. The smile vanished. She shook her head. " You know they would be still then, and want to be," he went on urgently. " I have n't heard you in ages." The girl looked at him with surprising gravity. " Will you excuse me, Willard ? " ' AA I IV. Ves. it vou re li'oum 1 to use that tone. \\ hat i> it '.' 1 l;i\'e \ on ;i e<,:,| 7 No. lint ! 'in out of the \VJiy of it." \\'liy. that ' ;il] \vrons noiiiinu 1 imieh U-tter in heaven, than the real article in the wax of a .sin^niL;' voice, and \on have the real tiling. It s a eri'iie to hide it under a lui-lte!. I- n'r that so. Vandyke? " Indeed, yes. responded the latter warmlv. \ on j4'i\'e -o unicii more attention latel\ to the piano." FreiH-h turned !avk to the u'n'. \\'iio stnod tall and motionless, her ^lain-e I'al'iii^ even though her head was held inu'ii. as she rested one hand on a chair-l>nck. I dop. t understand it. She smiled i'amilv. " Must \'oti understand cvervtliinji'. ^*^ :I!ard 7 But this means a lot to us all. ^ on need n't expect it to l>e taken meeklv if von cut oil' that supplv. I shall make mistakes in mv ii^'iires. ]\Iosl)V won't paint nearlv as well -,)n>t what I told her!" put in the artist. 'Vandyke would contrive to put poetry even into a law practice il he heard you -in'j,. The hiwver started to add itr^'encv to French s aiiueal when a slight circumstance restrained him. ~ Margaret was g'raspin^' a fold of her soi; ^'owu \vith one hand, and he noticed that the iilmv stuff IX Till-: MUSIC-ROOM 53 in her sleeve was trembling as if a breeze blew it. lie glanced quickly up to her face. Her lip was caught in her teeth. The expression was not one of light obstinacy. ' Miss Carruth, if you really would rather not sing now," he said, *' may I interrupt Mr. French's arguments and ask you to tell me about this idol in the corner ? "' French at once strode to the side of Mrs. Dar ling, who was looking bored, and became orator ical. k - This, my friends, the idol of which Mr. Vandyke speaks, is a most remarkable curio. She is practically indestructible, enduring more recep tions, calls, and balls to the twenty-four hours than any other known goddess. Her worshipers are innumerable, and not one of them would think he could lead a cotillion without her assistance. The women adore her less openly, but not one dares to get a bonnet until she sees what the idol is going to " "Sit down here and behave yourself!" inter rupted Mrs. Darling, lazily smiling, while Althea, with a resentful air, dove behind the screen of palms and listened attentively to Margaret's his tory of the ingeniously ugly god who reposed in their bower. But she could not help listening to scraps of the talk between Mrs. Darling and French, so presently she moved away to the piano, where in looking over music she found an object of real interest. Presently Mrs. Darling took her companion into the next room. 1 hey had no sooner ^one than Margaret paused, regarding Vandyke, who was pulling his mustache abstractedly. V\ hv did \ on take the trouble to do this?" .she asked abruptly. lie looked at her questioninglv. ""Why did you stop Mr. French?" Vandyke smiled. "To ask von about the idol. you know. " For which you cared nothing." The man flushed. What, make-- yon think so ? 1 lave I been rude ? ' No : only absent-minded and hone>i/' " 1 am sTill under the spell of your music. Forgive me. "1 have nothing to forgive: I have to thank you: but it was odd that you, an utter stranger, should have have seen it makes you not a stranger." Margaret finished with a brief e no need for vou to change vours." I)iit mother \vas hadlv startled to iind me so much in earnest, and she took pa>sa^e at once for America. We had one painful scene, hut it \\as the last. 1 have said nothing since on the su!>- ject." ^larptret paused an instant for seli'-con- Irol. tlien \vent on. ! can scarcely tell \vliy I yearn to do tins tiling. It is a ]io\\'er in UM ; . pre.-- in^' for outlet. It is as if had a iiKv-sa^'e to ^ive the iimltitude. and must live in unre.-l nntd I have delivered it. I have v,'ro\\ n afraid of my voice: to sinn 1 r I wonder if tliere are n't some Philadelphia girls feeling bereft just now? However. \\ illard savs he has n t been a society man. Those e\es! When he thanked me for his evening's pleasure 1 felt as if I were being made love to. Well." Mrs. Camith yawned, it has been a long day. Let us go to bed. Margaret went into the music room and turned off the lights. A street-lam]) sent a beam athwart the palms. The girl glided into their shadow, where sat the smug-faced idol upon its pedestal. "With her hands clasped about its neck, she leaned her forehead against the cold bronxe. and the thing smiled complacently, seeming to be striving to look down on her soft brown tresses with its cross-eyed gaze. CHAPTER V SOCIETY Miss GAYLORD heard voices in the next room after she had retired that night. She tried to recognize the accents of the strange one, but in vain. " I don't believe it 's that Mr. Vandyke," she thought. " Mrs. Darling would n't let him get away like that." But it was Vandyke, who, obeying a quiet in vitation from Willard French, had resisted Mrs. Darling's effort to induce him to come in and have a midnight chat with her, and gone to French's room instead. " Sorry you don't smoke," said Willard hospi tably. " Makes a fellow feel as if he could n't do anything to make you comfortable." " I '11 smoke, then," replied Vandyke. lie took a cigar, lit it, and dropped into an easy-chair, while French took his favorite attitude on the divan. " I never cared for it. The smoke got in my way ; but now I have n't anything else to do." " Humph ! " Willard regarded him critically. " You have n't the physique of a book-worm." " Oh, a man looks out for his muscle." Both smoked for a, silent s]>:ico. tlien \ andyke eot;- tinncd : I in glad von asked me up liere. No\\ that I have met the ( 'arruths. I want to know all 1 mav about t hem.' Interest vou, do they ? Surely 1 should be uuimpressible it they did n't." ' By 'they" I presume vou mean Miss ( 'ar- ruth. remarked French, with a grin. ^ our interest in the u'reat god Bud to-night reminded me of that of Kiplin^s maiden in Mandalay. Vou traiHjuillv: "and by -they' I mean -they.' Mrs. Carruth is a remarkable "woman. * Well." said Freucli approvingly, evidently those eves of vours are good to see with. By flove, that woman 's got nerve ! he went on alter some thoughtful putt's. His g-uest watched him and \vaited with interest. * \\ alking on a volcano all the time, and knows it, and yet but what's the use of telling you? It 's just one person telling another that s ^oini;' to spring the mine one of these days. Anybody who is a real friend of Mrs. Carruth's had better hold his tongue.' Well, vou would rouse every particle of curi osity in me if I were n't already informed. French took his pipe from his lips and stared. " Informed ? " he echoed, rising on his elbow. SOCIETY G3 " Oil ! " sinking 1 back and speaking disgustedly. ' Molly Darling told yon. She might have waited, I think ; though I don't know why I should blame her, when I did sueh a silly, sehoolgirlish trick myself as to refer to it at all. Of course you have merely seen Miss Carruth, and you can't realize how her pride is going to be wounded in the most sensitive place if the truth ever does get to her ; but Mrs. Carruth knows, and " " Stop ! " commanded Vandyke, and French stared again. " We 've been mistaken. I don't understand your references. Mrs. Darling has told me nothing. What I know, Miss Carruth told me herself." " A thousand apologies to the fair Molly," said Willard, with relief ; and what, pray, did Miss Carruth tell you?" u What she did not expect me to speak of, probably. Come, French, let us talk about the weather. We 're making a mess of the other sub*- ject, I think." "' Oh, speak out ! You can't make me believe Miss Carruth said anything to you in the first half- hour of your acquaintance that she would n't say to me, the companion of her mud-pie days." " I don't want you to believe it." " Then set my mind at rest." Vandyke smiled, but kept silence. " You evidently want to make me jealous," re marked French. " Miss Carruth has always been 64 A (;HI-:AT LOVE like a sister to mo, and I Vo never for a moment had the temerity to Relieve that she would consent to lie anything' else ; hut this is a little too much! Let "s see." lie Intel-viewed the ceiling through a blue ha/o. " I said Mrs. Can-nth was walking on a volcano, and von agreed to it irom something Magnet told you. Oh. it had completely gone out of my mind, she must have said something to yon about the stage. Fh '.' " Vandyke; dropped the ash from his cigar into the receiver. k " Don't be shy. my legal friend. Her mother referred to it to me to-night. Said she was afraid jMagliet was growing morbid, or something to that effect." Mrs. Carrnth's chin looks as if she held decided views," remarked Vandyke. "Her daughter's is the same shape, though." ' Yes." French smiled at some thought of his own. " Miss Carruth inherits a surprising number of her mother's traits considering.' " Did you know her father ? " " Mr. Carruth lias boon dead about ton years. \ knew him. yes, indeed. A powerful man in the business world ; but 1 've thought a good many times," continued French between the pulls at his pipe, "that Mrs. Carruth didn't understand her daughter quite as well as she ought to. Magnet chafes at her own life, though she s plucky and her mother has nothing to complain of. She SOCIETY 65 has n't as many friends of her own age as you would expect, though she is in society too. There 's 110 use in harnessing' a blooded horse to a coal wagon. Mrs. Carruth, by crooking her finger, could get lots of women who would like the tasks she sets her daughter, and would do them just as well." " Probably Miss Carruth grows by the dis cipline." a Well, there you 're too deep for me. I know she keeps a stiff upper lip, and is considered one of the luckiest girls in Boston." French gave a musing exclamation. " I hope she '11 be good to Miss Gaylord ! " he ejaculated. " The young lady she was playing to when I went in ? " " Probably ; and who is now asleep on the other side of the wall near your elbow." Vandyke looked at the wall somewhat startled. " Oh, it 's thick," remarked French. " She is a relative of yours ? " " Possibly, by some legal quirk. Some are born to relatives, some achieve relatives, and some have relatives thrust upon them. This is one of the latter variety. She is a sort of step-neighbor-in- law of mine." " And a very near one, too," said Vandyke. " She can't hear us, though. That 's all right. I 'd like to see the girl enjoy herself," remarked French. " She is a stranger here." "Indeed? I sympathize with her: hut then, she knows Airs. Darling." French turned lazilv on his couch and smiled at his friend. You find that a panacea, eh ? " Mrs. Darling is very kind." said \ andyke gravely. Ileigho! \\ illard suppressed a vawn. Ail in the standpoint." lie remarked. " I should think her the very person to make a girl eii]ov herself. She knows so mam people." ^ on re right. It a girl takes her iancv. she knows how to put her through." "('ant you induce her to take Miss (i ay lord up? She seems such a quiet, retiring gul: >lie needs just such reassurance as Mrs. Darling 1 would give her. French's teeth gleamed on his pipe-stem at this. You and I together might accomplish it. ^ oil seem to lie getting in//ooenee in that quarter." ' I ? Oh. not at all." returned Vandyke, with such quiet sincerity that his host s smile widened. 'If you really feel philanthropic, just take a little notice of Miss Gay lord yourself, suggested French. ' The philanthropy would have to he on her side. I assure you. I "in always tongue-tied with women who don't help me out. French laughed. She "11 help you out all right." ' 1 should Lo very ulad to meet her auain." said SOCIETY 67 Vandyke courteously. " How soon," lie added, with an earnest hesitation which entertained his host vastly, " how soon would it be permissible for me to go again to the Carruths' ? " " Just follow your inclination, my dear fellow. You'll never run against any formality there/' " That is very agreeable advice." The speaker sat up in his chair with a look of pleasure. " The difficulty is, they 're not often at home except on their evening," went on French. " Of course." The visitor's face fell. " I had n't thought of that ; but," hopefully, " there is always that evening." " Oh, yes, there is always that evening," echoed French. " Well," he said to himself after his guest had departed, " there is one square peg that has found a .square hole, sure ! The magnet works again ! ({ad! he 's a queer chap! I can't find out whether he was born yesterday, or only has chivalry to burn -as my ward would ex press it." Vandyke in his inexperience had not counted on the likelihood of meeting the Carruths acciden tally at some of the many functions to which he began to be invited. He knew nothing of the circles, the cliques, the strata, and variety of society in Boston ; so the pleasant surprise was the greater when, 011 an evening soon afterward, in the crowded drawing-room of one of his new friends, he saw Miss Carruth. She had recog- 68 nized him first, and regarded him fixedly as, after a few greetings and remarks, he stood for a minute impassive of countenance, wait ing. Expression suddenly flashed over his face, and lie strode toward her. ! willed von to look at me. she said, \vith a frank, childlike smile that had mischief in it, and showed a new phase of her. l> Then no wonder I did," he responded. She was dressed in white, her shoulders hare, and her well-carried head was crowned by a slender dia dem full of tiny sparks of light. lie saw that her presence was superb, though still girlish, and his mind was full ot her fitness to carrv out those desires which just now seemed far from her happy thoughts. 'vl did not dream of finding yon here." he went on. -else I should have come with far more plea sure." A greater radiance grew in her face. kk I give you my word. I 'm sleepy all the time. Aliss Carruth. I have always heard that Boston people were cold and conservative. Why, 1 never met such cordiality in my life ! When J came to this city, it was with the intention of staying, and I had a reason for desiring to secure some social standing, but " - he paused with a comical look of deprecation. ' You did n't bargain for standing room only," laughed Margaret. The dull evening had become so interesting. " Come, I "m tired too. I know SOCIETY G9 this house." They passed together out into the hall and down its length, to where, by a deep win dow, a seat was built into the wall. There they sat, followed by the envious glances of some who wished they had been first to discover this restful nook. " I begin to see that 1 must either give up my work or not accept everything," added Vandyke, basking in his good fortune, as he looked at Mar garet leaning back in her corner, with the tiny sparks, like fireflies, in her hair. " Yes, you can pick and choose, for society is n't an important part of a man's work. It is of ours. Sometimes we get rewards," she added. " Sometimes we do indeed," he returned signifi cantly, not appropriating her suggestion, but giv ing his own openly. " I have been wanting to see you again. Those one meets who furnish food for thought are so few. My first consideration when I make a new acquaintance is to wonder what this person is going to do for me : what will he or she do for me in my mental gymna sium?" His eyes, as he spoke, looked so frankly expectant that Margaret smiled, though an unde fined sensation of disappointment ran through her too. " You are not thinking that I can do anything toward developing your mental muscle, I hope ? " " Did that confession sound cold-blooded ? " he asked. "It is true, though." 70 "That is redundancy, Mr. Vandyke. The vice of insincerity will surely never be laid at your door." " Yes : that is why I probably shall never lie an ornament to society." The girl raised her eyebrows. " If yon are cynical, then I shall never again believe that I can read character. "Cynical? I hope not: but I haven't any small talk. I am stupid unless the conversation interests me. " Perhaps that is what yon expect to get from me in vonr mental gymnasium. ' Interesting conversation ? Certainly I do." " No : education in small talk." "\Vheii Vandyke smiled, as he did now in response to Margaret, there came a caressing look in his eves which, never having seen it in his own face, it would have 1 astonished him profoundly to suspect. " Is that the way I look at women ? " he would probably question, and forthwith proceed to cultivate a more impersonal regard : but as nothing interested him less than his own countenance, lie was not likely to discover its expressions or to repent and reform in this particular. " I shall he glad to learn anything you will teach me," he said. ".Have you any small talk?" ' Thank you," she replied encouragingly. "That was good. You are doing well. He picked up her fan and looked at it. He did SOCIETY 71 not know whether to remind her how far removed from superficiality their previous interview had been. Her mood now was so altered. "What have you been doing?" he asked. " Since when ? " He looked up again. " Since I knew you." '"Let me see. That is three days. I have been singing." " What ! " " Yes. I sang at a Mission on Sunday after noon." lie looked at her full of interest. "How did that happen ? " u I thought over what you said to me, and mother asked me to. See what you are doing in my mental gymnasium ! " " Why did n't you reward me by letting me know? I might have heard you too." " I did n't know where to reach you and I should n't have considered doing so in any case. I was too busy controlling my runaways." " Perhaps had you known my address you might have thought of me ? " " Oh, I thought of you." " Let me provide against a possible future." Vandyke took his visiting card from a pocket and wrote on it the address of a club. " I suppose your mother was much pleased." " Yes. I did n't tell her who had awakened my conscience." 72 ,1 GREAT LOVE " And was the effect of your work on your audi ence the same as before? She nodded. u And still painful on yourself? Tell me if I am probing where I should not. " I hud more self-control this time," " Supposing you should grow out of the morbid condition altogether? " A lambent glow came in the girl's gray eyes. and the sparks flashed in her hair as she stirred. " Is it morbid for a bird to crave to use its wings as well as to sing? she asked quietly. "Poor bird! P>rave bird!" said Vandyke. "If it were not presumptuous in me to praise you. I should tell YOU how 1 admire you tor the victory. Margaret's breast rose and fell, and she leaned back on the cushions behind her. " Where can you put this card ?" he went on after a minute. " Nowhere." She smiled at him. " Woman's rights in the matter of pockets have n't penetrated to evening gowns."' u There ! " he said plaintively, turning the card undecidedly in his fingers. " You see how I blun der. Tell me what I should have done?" "You should have said: - Miss Carruth, let me send you my address to-morrow. ' ' " Miss Carruth. let me send you my address to-morrow," he repeated, then added blankly, "but I've forgotten yours." SOCIETY 73 She laughed. " You are a hopeless case, an absolutely hopeless ease." " But you can tell me the number." " Of course I can ; but how much more compli mentary it would have been for you to telephone Willard French for it to-morrow ! " " Oh I " said Vandyke, pondering on the lesson so seriously that Margaret laughed anew, while another man's voice spoke near them. "Who invokes Willard French?" That per sonage approached and stood before them, wonder ing at what he discovered. " To find Magnet Carruth twosing with any man ! What next ? " was his mental comment. " I was so afraid I might hear too good things of myself, I spoke at once," he remarked. "Modest violet, I 'in glad you did," said Mar garet. " You know, when I get to talking about you, Willard, my feelings are apt to carry me away. There "s a model for you," she added, turning to Vandyke. " Oh, Magnet, come ! " protested French, shyly shading his face with his hand. " Poor boy ! No, I did n't mean that you were the model. Mr. Vandyke understands." " Perhaps he does ; but your mother thinks you are lost." " Does she ? When you go back, tell her I 'm not, won't you? " French raised himself on his toes. " How do 74 A you know I "in going' l>aek '.' I think I 'd rather stay and be lost with \'ou. I made a mistake. Mr. Vandyke, in saving that Mr. French is not the model for what \ on want, i Ie is the very person." ( )h, come ! I f von re going to talk riddles ! ' But 1 tell yon that Mr. Vandyke nnder- stands."' So no matter about me. 1 suppose. >aid \Vil- lard. injured. " No matter about von. 1 Io\v i> Miss (iav- lordr" " Asleep. I jtresnme. She seems to have a good eoiix-ienee. 'How is her iniisie getting 1 on ? \\eil iMiougii. 1 i'anev. I gather from her remarks that harmony is intvoducing' more discord into her life than anything else just now." "Oh. harmony is enough to turn anybody's hair gray. I went into it a little wav and then retreated as gracefully as possible. Does mother want me for anything in particular?" * I think she wishes you to meet an old party whose business it is to see stars." * To complete his education ? suggested \ an- dyke. Margaret turned to him demurely. " Bravo!' she murmured. lie's an English astronomer, and something of a lion. I judge. I left him roaring gently to SOCIETY <0 Mrs. Darling. She '11 have him purring before she gets done with him." " I should like to meet him," said Vandyke, with interest. Margaret rose instantly. " Let us go," she said. French lounged ahead of them. ' I will take that card," she added to her escort. Vandyke hesitated. " But you have no place to put it." "I will find a place." Vandyke took the card from his pocket, and she placed it between the leaves of her closed fan. lie viewed its insecure position. " It will slip out, there," he said. She smiled and tapped her gloved palm with the ivory sticks. "Did you ever own a fan?" she asked. Later in the evening they met again. He glanced her over. " You did drop that address," he said. " What a memory you have for trifles ! " she responded, biting her lip. " I beg your pardon. It is n't a trifle to me. Very well," he smiled, " to-morrow I shall tele phone to French and w r rite you a note." " If you remember," she answered. But that night, while she made ready for bed, Burton Vandyke's bit of pasteboard lay safely on her dressing-table. (HAITI-IK vi A \K\V LKAK - AVi; mustn't forget Miss (laylord." Mrs. Carruth said to her daughter as thev sat at lireak- fast the next morning. She inav lie getting 1 lonely." \\ ould n t slie come to us it' she were '.' ' I don t know. She mi'ht not. ('onld n't you run in there soinetinie to-day and take a look at her ? '' So Margaret, returning from a lunch that after noon, directed her driver to stoj> at Mrs. Barlow's in Newliury Street. The maid who answered her vmc afraid of me ? Because well, you '11 find out probably after I ye shocked you a few times. \\ on r YOU have some candy? Altliea reached for a large box of chocolates on a neighboring table. I hey re delicious, and you ought to haye some, for you were the cause of my getting them." "How mysterious you are! Miss (/arruth took one of the confections, and Altliea filled her own little mouth and talked on under difficul ties. " T won it on a "bet. Do you think that > awful?" She regarded her visitor with serious questioning. k - That depends." said Margaret. AN' ell. yon see. it was this way. The other night, at your house, Mr. French and I were out in the hall and we heard you playing. lie said you were playing to that Vandyke man with the A NEW LEAF 79 eyes ; but I knew better. I knew Mrs. Darling was in there and that you would n't get a chance." Miss Carruth flushed suddenly, and an imper ceptible stiffness ran through her. k * Do take some more," said Althea, giving a little hospitable shake to the box. ' Candy never hurts me ; does it you ? " " Sometimes. No more now, thank you." Miss Gay lord sank back in her chair, putting another chocolate in her mouth. " Mr. French had the nerve to say that he had really won the bet, even after I showed him the great Van sitting- just where I said he would be." Margaret gave the faintest smile out at the brick wall, then back at her hostess. " What a funny child you are ! " she said. " Oh, I don't know," responded Althea, lifting her chin with a little rowdyish air. " I don't believe I 'in so much more of a child than you are. But I knew I \l shock you. I suppose I have, have n't I ? " she added curiously. ' I I don't think I quite understand you." " I suppose not," said Althea resignedly. " I did n't suppose anybody in Boston would. That 's the reason I made up my mind to be a recluse." " And now you don't find it pleasant to be a recluse ? " " Oh, once in a while it 's a bore ; but it 's bet ter than walking on the ragged edge of slang all the time with people like you." 80 ''Slant;'?" repeated Miss Carruth, surprised. " Yes. I '(I lie glad to give it Up. but (ice will/! what n hold it gets on anybody! At voi;r house tin 1 other night 1 did n't dare to say a tiling but 'yes' and no.' People \vlio can use it or not use it. like M i's. Darling, are niv despair. I in not that \vav. It's got to be total alist iiM-iiee with me or the whole thing. I wish there was a ' D wight ' for the cure of slang. I don't know Imt I 'd rather lie honest, though, than to lie like .Mrs. Darling all things to all men. and the more men the merrier. Margaret winced, and spoke hastily : ' Mrs. Dar ling is my cousin. at least, her husband is." "Oh. that's so! What a jay I was to forget it ! " exclaimed Althea contritely. '-Mi'. Darling is one of the finest men I ever saw. \ on mu>t think the world of him. k> We do. I am surprised that you seem so familiar with them. "Oh, I knew them all right out in Colorado: that is, I did n't see much oi him, Imt von don t need to cat a whole jar of butter to find out it 's good. I was just fascinated with her too. hut not so much that I could n t see that he was miles too food for her ; and since she snubbed me the other t* day on the street, I m not so much bewitched as I was. I 'd lots rather be like yon,'' added Althea naVvely. " I 'm going to make a stab at it. too. I was thinking about you when you came in A NEW LEAF 81 to-day. See that box tacked up on the wall ? That 's a slang 1 box. I began putting in a nickel for the poor children's fresh-air fund every time I slipped, but my ! I soon saw that there would n't be an unaired slum baby in Boston, and that they \1 have to reach over into Xew York to sup ply the demand ; so I 'in going to come down in my tax. The boys at home have an anti-swearing club. My little brother belongs, and he showed me the list of fines. ' Darns ' were four for a cent. I 'm going to take example and moderate my extravagance, so there '11 be some hope of going on with my music." " That 's right ; I would n't talk slang. I want to hear you play when you feel like it." " AVhy should you ? You are n't paid to suffer, like my poor teacher. Some day I 'm going to hear you again. It does me lots of good." " llight now, if you like," said Margaret, begin ning to take off her gloves. Althea's face brightened, and just then a tap came at the half-open door. " Come," said the girl, and in walked Mrs. Darling. " Oh ! it 's you, Margaret ! " cried the new comer. " I wondered who Miss Gaylord had. Well, how do you do ? Are n't you cosy, up here ! " Althea rose and returned the visitor's greeting mechanically. " How strange," she said stiffly, " that it never rains but it pours cats and dogs." Mrs. Darling' laughed. I "in interested to know which of us is the cat, are n't you, Marga ret ? " '.Miss Carruth's second visit and your lirst." pursued Miss Ciaylord, at tine and the same time." t- Yes.'' Mrs. Darling seated herself comfort ably. " L only found out last evening where you were. How strange that vou should he in the same house with \Villard French!" While sue spoke, her eyes were roving about, taking notes of the furnishings of the room. Ah ! those art- good photographs of your lather and mother. Are they well? Is n't she cosy here. Margaret ?'' ^ es : I was just telling her I half-envied her. There is something bohemiuu in my blood that stirs at the thought of student life. I don t know which side I get it from. I 'm sure. Do vou? ''Oh, I think your mother would make a very gootl bohemian if she were put to it. You ought to have a tire in that little grate, my dear, and where is your tea-table? " " I had n't thought yet about a tea-table," said Althea with dignity. u "Well, you should have," retorted Mrs. Dar ling vivaciously. I was saying to myself, as 1 climbed those wretched long stairs, what a refresh ing cup of tea I was going to have. I '11 tell you what,'' she added with inspiration, "go and get the tea-things out of Willard's room," A NEW LEAF 83 Miss Gaylord held herself with what she hoped was a good imitation of the repose of the Vere de Veres. " I 'm sorry to disappoint you, Mrs. Darling', but I never go into Mr. French's room." " What, never ? The very next room, and he away all day ! Oh, my dear ! "We 've met before ! It 's hardly ever, is n't it ? Let this be one of the exceptions. The idea of that little minx putting on airs with me ! " she thought with amusement. " There are no exceptions, Mrs. Darling.'' " And that room has remained a Blue Beard chamber to you ever since you have been in this house? " incredulously. "Not at all," returned A Ithea coolly. "Why should I be curious about Mr. French 's room ? Here is some of his candy," she added, passing the box. " Let chocolate apologize for tea this once, and I '11 try to have some the next time you come." " Primes and prisms, Allie ! " laughed Mrs. Darling, as she took a chocolate. " Are n't you proper ! " And upon this Margaret was discon certed to receive from that one of Althea's eyes concealed from her other guest, an elaborate wink. " Oh, I just gave her a lesson in deportment, and don't you forget it," said Miss Gaylord impressively, telling French all about the visit that evening after dinner. They usually had a 84 talk in the parlor hefore separating', lie for hi-; evenings eii^au'eiiient and she 1o her novel or let ter-writing. I in'iie.s.s she thought von were v,one on me when she saw the si/e ot mv eandv hox." continued the i^'irl. with an apprecial i \ e shah of tiic head. I did n 1 let //(/ know it uas a het, though I "d told Miss ('arruth all about it before .M i's. i )arlinii' came in. .\liout what '.' " k - A oout our bet. * ^ on did ! 'Yes, of course. \\liv not?" allied Althea ooollv. \\'hv - X'andvke was a stranger to Miss Carrnth she nuist have though! it strange people don t sav such tilings to her. French was incoherent in his hopelessness ot niakinu his com panion understand. Oh, come oft' the roof ! in a disgusted drawl. 'People are always trying to make out that Miss Carrutli is a little tin ^'od on wheels. She s no thing of the kind." French looked doulit fullv at the boyish-talking. girlish-looking s])eaker. Althea was always dressed with quiet and perfect taste, the slenderest ot lit tle jewelled rin^s were on her dainty hands. lie never adjusted himself to her paradoxes. "Seems to me that is a new rul>v you have, he remarked, catching the e;low of a small stone on her linger. tk Where did you 'U you go upstairs ? \\ liv, I liaven t been verv bad to-ui^ht ! said Althea naVvely. You don't notice it when you "re with me as much as you would with Magnet Miss ( 'ar- ruth." ' Magnet 's a corking ^ood name for her," remarked Miss (iaylord warmlv. "She (list draws me like like " ' Vour <;()()(! ani^'el ? She will lie your uood anii'el. too. if von 11 let her. said French encour- n<^'iii<;lv. ' I)iit what did she say when you told her of our bet ? " " Said J was a funny child." " Is that all ? " " Of course. You "re all off your trolley about her. She "s all ri^ht. She thinks the folks are as g'ood as the people. " Althea finished with a wink and nod that clinched the matter. French regarded her thoughtfully. Evidently Margaret had been successfully adaptable, and who knew what might be the permanent result to this girl of the fact that Mrs. Darling had snubbed her on their first accidental meeting '! A NEW LEAF 87 " I was having 1 so much joy with her when Mrs. Darling came in. She was just going 1 to play. Of course, it was kind of Mrs. Darling to come, though I guess it was only to see what I was doing' so close to you. How did she know you had tea- things? " '* I gave her and some other women tea in my room one day." " It 's a wonder she did n't make a break in there herself this afternoon, and swipe 'em." French looked up, gently inquiring, " And how much fresh air does ' swipe ' buy a poor baby?" " What ? Oh, yes ! I don't know." " I think ' swipe ' ought to come high," he suggested. Althea smiled. " You consider it particularly froggy ? Just think ! I did n't even know I said it." " You poor girl ! ' The exclamation was so serious that a slow, surprised look of resentment came in her eyes. " You say that as if you pitied me." " I do. I know something about habits. I had the cigarette mania once, and was nearly broken up before I caught myself." " I know that 's perfectly awful," agreed Althea, " but slang is different. It does n't injure you." " Oh yes, it does a girl," he answered. She regarded him askance, and he looked at her directly. " Damages her," he went on, slowly and 88 deliberately, " knocks oft' the bloom. She becomes a good fellow :it best. ^ mi understand." Althea half-rose troin her chair, but pride forced her back, lie continued in the same (juiei. com monplace tone : Much better to become like Miss ('arnith. as you surest." " I don t sec how I ni go in 14' to when I don t know what I say ball' the Time." Miss (iaylord was defiant, lint suddenly very near tears. Petted, beloved at home. Haltered by the youths of her acquaintance, to tind herself an object of genuine criticism in the eves ol a vounu' man who uas thoroughly at home in a set where she lelt herself an alien, was a shock. I 11 help von. said French. \\ hat do von sav to our swearing oil together'.' 1 \ oil remind me. and I 11 remind vou. and we 11 have tor our watchword * Magnet. * I think I 'd rather you didn't swear off." said Alihea plaintively. "I'd like something to re mind me of home." ' No danger, ' returned French. v her self-possession. "He'll find out!" she thought triumphantly, as she went hack upstairs to her room. I shall treat him well, but with a difference! In the middle of the morning', while Althea \\as practicing at the piano, a florist s box was handed in at her door. Her heart beat faster as she un wrapped it. for she suspected its significance. It can't alter facts,' she thought, as she untied the string with unsteady fingers, "lie said what he thought was the truth, and since he does think that" the cover came off. and the tissue paper, and hunches of violets, sweet and dewy, were revealed. A NEW LEAF 93 " Treat him well, but with a difference," she thought mechanically. She picked French's card out of the box. On. the back of it was scribbled : kt I have hurt myself more than I have you. Won't you let it amount to something ? " Althea thought long, and smelled of the violets. O O ' Sweet, modest, quiet little flowers ! "Why had he selected them ? w - It is n't your fault," she said to them at last, and she put them in water. Then, after more hesitation, she picked up the box. It was rather small, about the size of the one in the grate. At last she punched a hole through its side with the scissors, and stuck it on the empty nail. Then she went back to her practicing. Somehow it would n't go. Her hand was tired. Her thoughts were still riotous. " I '11 take a walk," she decided ; and arraying herself, she went out of doors and betook herself to a shopping district. An hour afterward Willard French at his desk was interrupted by an office-boy who handed him a small box. He opened it without suspicion, for he had never seen the writing which addressed it. In folds of tissue paper he felt something hard. Curiously he unfolded it, and came upon a toy magnet, the steel clinging close to its arms. Around it was curled a bit of writing paper, and on this was written, " United we stand ! " 94 French smiled. :uio\ and contents into a drawer. Althea s lui^nonne face kept coining between him and Ins li^nres that morning. And >he would n t L;O into mv room for Molly," \vas the irrelevant a.ddition his thoughts made to each column. CHAPTER VII A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY Miss BEEBE, looking upon Miss Gaylord's career in Boston as largely the work of her own hands, had no mind to lose sight of it, although Althea proved but a coy correspondent. Miss Luella wrote to the girl voluminously on thin paper with pale ink, and it was a mercy that she never knew the sort of reception those closely- written lines met in Xewbury Street. Althea gave desperate glances at the devious twistings with which the thread of Miss Beebe's discourse wound in and out the pages of two or three sheets, sometimes leaping from first to third, sometimes beginning on the fourth and continuing whither? The girl had 110 interest to find out. " There ! if you can translate Miss Beebe's let ters for me," she said with sudden inspiration, to Willard French in the early days of her stay, " you '11 be a guide, philosopher, and friend worth having. I '11 let you off from ever going for the doctor at midnight. I've studied on the thing for ten minutes, and I 'in all balled up. I 'm going to jump the job." This being before the era of the slang-box, French took- the leiter in silence and whistled softly as lie regarded il-> inlerliiied pages. " \\ hv de> n t >he \vrite to von. I "d like to kno\\ '.' " said Mi>s (lavlord aggrievedlv. l!' voti ever mention such a tiling ! " ejaculated \\ illai'd. with va^'iie threatening. ^ on 11 have to he good to me then, or else 1 shall tell her voti re jealous. Name the goodness von demand, and you -hall have it it' it "s in t he market ! Fir>1 of all. read that letter." " 1 don t heheve I can. >aid French helplessly. turning over the slippery sheets. "Where does the thin^ begin '! " "That s it. said Miss (Jaylord triumphantly. ' \\"here does it 7 What did I tell you?" 1 guess von d better he contented \\ith small things. scraps, as it were. I "11 read anywhere I can. If I see a head, hit it. von know. " That 11 suit me just samples to answer it from." " ^ on 're going- to answer it ? said French, relieved. That s a good girl. ' lie much feared that if Althea did not give an account of herself, lie would he the next one appealed to. "Of course I shall have to write to her. if only to tell her not to he partial to me, right in the same house with von. French looked np with such lire in his eve that Althea lani/hed wickedlv. A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 97 " Tlie bargain 's off," he announced, throwing down the letter, which promptly floated and slid off in three directions. " No, no, it is n't ! " said Miss Gaylord, with hasty contrition. " You '11 find there is n't any sharp serpent's tooth about me. I 'm not a thank less child." Upon which AVillard again gathered up the fragments of Miss Luella's discourse and spread out the sheets like a fan. " I I'm, h'm ! " he mused. " Here 's something : ' Pa's rheumatism is brighter ' - no, no ! * bet ter than last year.' ' "As if I cared ! " remarked Althea. " Well, you ought to. Rheumatism is the deuce. 1 had it once after a game of football." ' ; I hope Boston climate argues ' - no, k agrees with you. Remember what I shall ' 110, ' said, about orchestras.' '' " She never said a word about orchestras. I don't believe she knows an oboe from a hobo." French knotted his brow for a mighty effort. " ' Orchestras ' ? No, it is n't ; it 's ' overshoes.' ' Remember what I said about overshoes.' " " Chestnuts ! " observed Althea, " Go on." " Oh, yes ! Go on ! " repeated French, with biting sarcasm. " Very easy to say ! " He bent to his task with straining brow. " The next four lines are written in Greek," he announced at last, with the calmness of despair. " I did n't know Miss Luella \v;is up to it. Mine is rusty. I shall have to skip it. II 111 ! h in ! \\ hat comes next. now 7 The - call hot -- iire ' - whv. that does n t mean anything ! And there aren't any cal>s in Spring-dale. Mi^'ht n't it lie cat ' ? " ('at' Oh yes!" relieved, ('at. - Tin- cat ----- had iive kittens" There, Miss Beebe can write -kittens ! adunrin^'lv. " She or.^'it to write that word for a Jiving: ]>ast -- \\eep,' " Last week," ptose ! I should think vou could use vour imagination some ! Possibly French thought this a laltor-savin^' sii^'- gvstion worth considering. At all events, he went on swimmingly. ' ' I suppose von have entireU ^'iven up slant;' since you reached Boston. ' Hold \our horses, niv friend '. She doesn't know I use ativ. Ha, ha! I caught vou! It strained the ^'nn av.i'ully. hut 1 was duml> in Spring'dalc. Stick to business, voun^ 1 man ! French ohedieutU stammei'ed on. ' i hope ---vou havcnt had to twinkle no -trou ble, Mr.' no ; Mrs. Oarruth, or her daugh ter." " 'Rats!" commented Althea. " Loving Mr. French as vou do he looked u]> with, an appreciative smile. Oh. I don t know," he remarked. Reading' your letter.-, is n't so had ! ' AVhy. of course, you can compose if you think A I'OVAdK OF DISCOVERY 99 it is so funny,'' remarked Miss Gay lord, with pink cheeks. " No, it 's here, for a fact ; but I '11 hurry on." " Yes, and cabs were there, and hot fires. Yon 're an expert, you arc. You "d better hurry back instead of on. Show me the place." They put their heads together over the sheet. " That 's k having,' " said Althea ; and then she read : ' * Having Mr. French as you do, close by, I am in hops ' ( * hopes,' I suppose) he can give you whiskey ' they both laughed. ' If that other is hops, this must be ' beer,' not 'whiskey,' " suggested French. u Well, I can just tell her I should never have anything but milk if you had your way," retorted Miss Gay lord. " That next word is ' aid.' Oh, I see ' whatever aid you need.' Oh ! there 's no use in going on. It will only be a rehash of great Carruth and good French. I know it like a song. I will send her a note that might have come out of the Complete Letter Writer,' and she '11 never know the difference." But Miss Ik'ebe did know the difference. She was disappointed by the brief, uncommunicative, and proper little notes which Althea sent her. " It 's a pity the child is so self-contained," she thought. " It was just the same here. It seemed hard always for her to express herself." Miss Luella corresponded also with Mrs. Car ruth at rare intervals, and from her she learned that Miss (lavlord li;id leen ;it her hoa-e mid tliat she and \\ illard French seemed on tnt ndlv icrnis. Miss !>eel>e was a ^tirrniL;' individual, and her monotonous id'e palled upon her very often. She * took lon^'iiiu' tits for Hoslon. a> -he expressed it. espeeialh for the shoppin^-yTound. win-re liar- " had for her an irresistible fascination. \\ hen the mood lieeaine too stroiiL;'. she '_ven- erallv made some temporary arrangement to secure Jier fatlier s comfort and took passage tor the haven of her desires. She liad a standing invilaiion at the Carrutlis", lint sh.e did not alwavs avail herseit of it. If -he sto])])ed at a hotel. >he lelt the greater freedom To haunt the (lr\-i^'oods stores : and M charmed her to lunch at rotaurauts ;uid eat Nesscli-ode piui ding'. One of Aithea's eonsei'vative letters started the u l<)ii^'inhe onh would take time to tell me ho\\ she's n'ot Ip-r i-ooni tixed up. or how she eii]o\'s the Symphonies, or what she thinks of the (,'ar- ruths ! she complained upon finishing Miss (ray- lord's three pa^'es : and then Miss Litella tell to musing upon whether a cei'tam one ot her neigh bors could come into her house and lake the reins for a few days. \\ he:i she u'ot as tar as this she knew, herself, that she \\as L;'oi;i^ to \ield. It jniu'ht take some davs ot reconsidering, hut 1:1 the end she \vould u' () to Boston. A VOYAGE Or DISCOVERY KM. This time her desires were helped on by the arrival of a letter from Mrs. Carruth, which came soon after Althea's. " I have been wishing lately that you lived near enough for me to talk to you occasionally," it said. ' In some moods nobody can take the place of an old friend, one whose memories of twenty-live years ago are the same as your own ; and I have very few such friends, Luella." A feeling of elated affection swelled Miss Bee- be's breast. It was something to hold a unique position of friendship with Mrs. Richard Carruth. It is to be feared that old Mr. Beebe's rheumatism would have needed to be very bad to keep her now, faithful daughter as she was. " Emeline needs me. That is plain. If she, whose whole life is spent doing for others, wants something from somebody else occasionally, she ought to have it.'' So Miss Beebe packed her bag, dressed in her best black silk and her solid gold jewelry, and took the train for Boston with as happy and excited a heart as was ever carried by a young- girl out for a holiday. The Carriiths gave her the usual welcome, and she ensconced herself in the chamber which was always hers when she came, with a feeling of im portance and satisfaction in her circumstances which queens might envy. She was not without tact, and her perceptions led her not to question her luisy hostess or ur^e her to t;i!k. "I'm ri"Ji! here now. ;ineel)e. --she knew tliat I shouldn't fully approve of anvtliin^ 1 th.at would tempt her to late hours, and Mrs. Darling's hot friend.- must admit that she does n f like a (|uiet life. Miss Luella finished tentatively. She had her own opinion of the lively Mollv. and it was a very follow the example of her hosts in retraining from comment upon her. I jud^e Althea hasn't troubled you much v she went on. A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 103 " Oh, not at all," replied Margaret. " I warned her," said Miss Beebe virtuously. " I tried to make her understand." " She seems like a very independent girl," said Mrs. Carruth. '* I hope her winter's experiment will be a successful one. I should n/t like to think of Margaret a thousand miles away in a strange city, with no one to look after her ; but I know mothers are unselfishly doing that thing every day." Miss Beebe bridled a little. " Why, I have an eye to Althea myself ! " Mrs. Carruth smiled. " Your eyesight must be excellent, Luella." k% I assure you it 's a great comfort to Mrs. Gay lord to know that I stand ready." li Xo doubt. Moral support is a great thing." tv And if Margaret were in Althea's place," went on Miss Beebe, who did not like to have the arrangements upon which she had so prided her self unappreciated, " she would have Willard French at her elbow, you must remember." Mrs. Carruth wiped the dust from the far cor ner of a pigeon-hole. " It might be, though," she suggested, " that Willard would n't be the man whom I should wish Margaret to fall in love with." " To fall in love with ! " ejaculated Miss Beebe, aghast, and had the dark, close-curled locks on her forehead had a little more intimate relation with 101 ]\ ': seal}), thev would have ri>e:i 1:1 protest. \\ ii;it do v;m iiicii .1 , {']',} -iiin 1 '.' Nothii)" 1 : only such thing's do lumpen. \on . know: and vou ha\e smoothed the wav th:- time.' 1 '.' [()! pitv .- -ake ! exelahned Mi-- I,nc!la in a tremor. \Vhv. 1 shall u'o to lied nick if von sav such tilings! Have vou noticed anvthinn 1 ? i )o you i h;nk it ha < has happened '! " She turned her iiead in jerks, like a Frightened liird. iVoiii mother to daughter, and oaek a^ain. with such sincere ti'(-j)idation ihai Marpirel laughed. 1 think mother is teasing von. Mi-- IJeehe." kv \\ hv. she came here. said Mi-;>te-st. "she eamc here to -tudv to . and for nothing el-e. nothing else. 1 can t think that >!ie \\ouhi he so She seavelied ioi 1 a v.ord. and (inally decided on unreasonaMe as to to \\ h\". I nni-! n'o to see her at once! M iss I Jee'oe sjirann 1 r,j). ' \ on must 11 t think so much oi a mere tk"_dit ol mv imagination. said Mrs. Carrnth. \\ e don t know Miss (iavlord \\ell at all: and as tor Willard, prohalilv such an idea is as remote from his mind as it was from \. ' I must :4'o to see her." repeated Miss Luella nervous! v. Well, lie careful.' Mrs. Carrnth laughed. Ivememlx'i' the mother who told her child that lie must never put beans in Ins nose. He had never thought of such a thin" until thai moment. A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERS 105 then the suggestion fascinated him. Be care ful." u Oh, 1 shall be,'' returned Miss Luella de voutly. If Althea's fate were of interest to her before, now it was far more so. This young', innocent, inexperienced girl had been brought to the great city and placed by Miss Beebe herself in a posi tion where her closest friend was a young man of marriageable age ! Miss Beebe, as she tripped along the street, con sidered French from this new standpoint. She recalled again that he was twenty-six years old, and attractive. Suddenly a thought arrested her. She stood still on the sidewalk. u Emeline said he wouldn't be the man she would wish Margaret to fall in love with. I ought to have questioned her. AVhat did she mean ? " Oh ! this was all very romantic, and Miss Beebe was delieiously miserable and very much excited. She had brought this about herself herself! What would Mr. and Mrs. Gay lord say! They had money, though French had n't. Yes, it was fervently to be hoped that Mrs. Carruth was wrong, and that Althea was still the same passive, steady, unemotional girl who had left her a few weeks ago in Spring-dale. Arrived at the boarding-house, Miss Beebe found that her protegee had gone out to take her mnsic-ir.-s on. l nc in:) turn soon, M> (he visitor was >ho\vn up io Miss Gavlord s room, \\here she laid off her jacket. She recalled (lie ia.-t time she \\as here, and her visit \\ii!> I'Yench. She remembered thai iir had not been very cordial witli regard to the advent of Althea. and that --lie had reproached him. V.\v they had heeii near neighbors for a sufficient length oi lime fov him to kno\\ .M!>s (la.xlord far l)etter than .Miss !>(-ele lier.M-lf did. She could not have been convinced ihal .\\ \\'illard lu'ttcr ll:an she did. \\'Iicn one lias li\cd next door to a liov ior ve-ii's. furnished him on nianv oceiisions \\n'i Uread ;;:,d hntter and jam, scolded him. petted him. even on one orca>ion spanked him. it is n t to lie expected lhat one should admit that any acquaintance of a fe\\ \\eelc.s eoiild supersede her. She looked around the room approvingly. It was a typical hoarding - house apartment, except that on a dressing-table \\cre numerous todct a little tea-table with a kettle and three cups and saucers. "She's just as neat as a pin. Althea is." thought the visitor. "That ^'oes with her sober. demure little face and ways. She ou^ht to have lived in I'uritan times." lust here Miss I'eebe cauii'ht si^lit oi a. "paste board box nailed to the w;di, and regarded it ciiri- A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 107 ously. It had a slit in the top. " I wonder what that 's for ? " she thought. A voice suddenly sounded, singing 1 up the stairs a popular song of the day, and Althea came into the room, throwing her music-roll into a chair before she saw Miss Luella. Miss Gaylord started. " Great Miss Beebe ! " she exclaimed. ' How you scared me ! " She received her guest's effusive kiss with faint return. " Why, I did n't even know you were coming to Boston ! ' ~ " Of course not. I wanted to surprise you, my dear, and I did, did n't I ? You write such short, unsatisfactory letters, I had to come myself and see what you were doing, and how you were doing it." 4i It is very good of you," said Althea, remov ing her hat. " My life is n't so wildly interesting that it will take you long to hear about it." Her guest was regarding her with curious scru tiny. *" Why, I can see already that it is agree ing with you here. You look as bright as a dollar. I shall be able to write your mother nice things about you ; but I suppose you tell her everything that happens to you ? " " Pretty nearly." " Why not everything ? " inquired Miss Luella quickly. " Oh," - Althea shrugged her shoulders, " art is long and time is fleeting, you know, and I IDS have to practice u lot." Her guest was looking at licr scrntini/inglv, vet w.th --ueli kindly eagerness that the girl smiled as she seated herself. V\ el!, I in glad to know somebody gi ts good letters from you. sighed Miss Luella. ' \ es. I know I in had. I wonder you don t droj) me altogether. Indeed, my dear, I have i; t so manv interests MI this world that I can afford to do that." 'There was something in the na'i've lionesty of tlie reply that touched Allhea. l - You "11 find 1 can talk faster than 1 can write." she responded. ' Thou tell me alxmt yourself, said Mi IVelie, settling 1 hack comfortably in hei- chair and begin ning to rock, i'irst. \our room. It turns out pretty well, does n t it 7 " Oh. yes." tw You 've made it look" I'eal ])retty. I 've l>eeii taking an invontorv while I \\aited for \ou: but what 's that box for on the wall? It looks a-, if yon had a niekel-in-the-slot arrangement." Miss Gavlord nodded. "That is lor frogs and snakes, she replied. Miss !>eebe"s chair nearly overturned in the violent retreat of its rockers. The girl's eyes twinkled. ' Drop a nickel in the slot and see them come out.' she drawled, laughing. " \\ hat are you talking about, you cra/v child '! " A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 109 " Well, that 's what Mr. French calls them. It 's only a slang-box, Miss Beebe, a box for my fines." u Is that boy teaching- you slang ? " Miss Luella's tone was severe. " No, indeed. lie wants me to use the English language instead of American slanguage. At least, so he says." " I rather guess there 's no danger," said Miss Beebe, bridling. " lie 'd better throw his pipe out the window before he criticises you, I think. As if yon would ever be a slangy girl ! " Althea colored and looked interestedly out at the sky. " I hope it won't occur to her to shake that box," she thought. " Now you 're going to play to me, are n't you ? " said the guest, settling back again in anti cipation. " I 'm sorry I can't. I 'in only digging away at exercises yet. You won't find anything but a chrysalis here. You '11 have to go over to the Carruths' for the full-fledged butterfly. Is n't Miss Carruth's playing out of sight ? " " As the boys say," added Miss Luella, with a little apologetic clearing of her throat, " as Wil- larcl French says, most likely," she continued. Miss Gaylord opened her purse, took thence a penny, and it jingled into the box. " That 's the way we do it," she said airily. " But is n't Miss Carruth's music fascinating ? " 1 10 A <;ni:.\T LOVE ' Yes. indeed. I often think, when I 'm at home there, with nothing' much to do on ;; dull afternoon, what would I give to have Margaret come in and sing all my blues away ! " Sing 7 ()!i. ves. Mr. French savs she does: but I 've never heard her." ' \\ hen von do. vou won't forget it." said Mi>s .I>eebe impressively. I was glad to hear von had been to their house. \\ ell. are n t thev splendid people?" she finished, witli that awed tone in her voice which Miss (ia\lord remembered irrever ently. She gave an off-hand nod. '"They've been verv good to me. Miss Magnet 's a. girl after my own heart. no." added . \lthea honestly. I mean she "s after my own head. I admire her. I mean to see a lot of her. There was a certain rigidity about Miss Lnella's pose. " You can hardly hope lor that. She is so occupied.'' " She makes time for me. all right." responded .Miss (iaylord lightly. "See those three teacups? She gave them to me. and had tea with me a couple of days ago. She said she brought two for company, and a third for a crowd. "I'm pleased to hear it. pleased." declared the visitor. ' I think the crowd may possibly be Mr. French sometimes after this. " You have probably grown very well acquainted A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 111 with Mr. French by this time," suggested Miss Beel)e, approaching delicate ground cautiously. " Why, of course," said Althea coolly. " He 's so frightfully proper, though, he has never been in here yet. Some evening, perhaps, if I have Miss Carruth inside and the maid posted outside, and the party breaks up at nine o'clock, he may trust himself in these dominions." ' Very nice," observed Miss Luella approv ingly. " "Willard has a great deal of nice feeling." She drew herself up slightly. ' ; I made no mis take in placing you here, it seems." " So far as he is concerned, no indeed," said Miss Gaylord, repressing a yawn. " We speak as we pass by, but not much more than that, lie is a high-flyer in society, while I am strictly a woman of business." " And are happy in it," added Miss Beebe. This indifference might be assumed. She scruti nized the girl closely. " Yes," said Althea, casting a look askance at a work 011 harmony which lay on the piano, " as happv as anybody can be who has to steer clear of Consecutive Fifths." " All Greek to me, my dear ; but do tell me now, while I think of it, how you came to know Mrs. Darling." "At a resort out West." "Do you see much of her?" The speaker's anxious tone was not lost upon her companion. * \\ hv 7 Do von \vant MIL' to cultivate her'.' 1 " Miss IVehe looked mysterious. k - I don't kiiou jus1 ho\v inueli I ou^lit to say. Altliea : hut tins much I surely may. Sin- is 11 t is liu,iit-iiimded. >he really is. 1 es. I 'ye discovered 1 hut myself." ohserved Altliea, smiling out the \viudo\v. CHAPTER VIII CONFIDENCES Miss BEEBE returned to the Carrutlis' in a very cheerful state of mind. She had just taken off her thing's and was feeling on the best terms with herself and the world, when Mrs. Carrnth came into her room. " Well, Emeliiie, my child is all right," she announced brightly. " I 've had a real good time with her." Mrs. Carruth seated herself and listened as her friend talked for some time of Althea's parents and their circumstances. " I 've seen pictures of their home, and it 's elegant," said Miss Luella; "and I do think when a girl is willing to leave; all those luxuries and go to a strange city and live alone up two flights of stairs and work all by herself, it shows a good deal of character." " Young people like the novelty," returned Mrs. Carruth. " The idea looks attractive to many of them. I think it does to Margaret. She seems to feel an interest in this little Althea of yours that I can account for in no other way." " Well, now, that 's good, for it will be a benefit to Altliea to associate with Margaret, and it won't do Margaret any liana to get away from fashion able life some. " She does n t care for that, von know, " said Mrs. Can-nth, looking' off thoughtfully. "Her heart is not in it." t No. I did n't mean in the sense of being wrapped up in it. I know well enough that you and she spend a groat part of vour lives in far different surroundings." But her heart is not in that, either." It was a very sad voice that Miss Beebe heard, and she turned to her friend <[uickly. --Her heart i.-. not in anything we do.' went on Mrs. Cairuth slov. !y. 'but she loves me and trusts me so completely that she does her best and never complains. "But where is her heart, then?" Miss Lu- ella's sympathies sprang out tiuickly at her i'rierd's sad tone. ilow ungrateful "Oh. hush!" Color surged up over Mrs. Car- ruth's forehead and cheeks. It is one of the most crushing- thoughts that come to me. that Mar garet might sometime do something forme from gratitude. She loves me so dearly now. I don't believe a daughter ever loved her mother more." She cast an appealing glance at Mi>s Beebe, who responded with an emphatic nod. k Of course she does. \\liy should n't she? But what do you mean. Kmeline, about her heart'/ Has she fallen in love \vith the \vroni;- man'/ " CONFIDENCES 1 15 " Xo. nothing of that kind. It is her voice, her beautiful voice. She wants to use it profes sionally. She wants to devote her life to it, to break iip our companionship, our home, - not to belong 1 to me any more, but to the public ! " ' Crazy child ! She does n't know what she 's talking about.'' ' I don't think she does. I have a long time been living in hope that she would content her self at home with the many uses for her music that are continually offering ; but instead, a little wall a thin wall, but still a barrier has grown up between us." " You don't tell me such a thing ! " Miss Beebe moved close to her friend. " Yes. I can't speak of it to any one, least of all to Margaret. I talk and laugh, and she talks and laughs, but neither of us is happy, and I am wretched ! " Why, Emeline, my dear friend ! What am I hearing ! AVhat a return for " " Hush ! Mrs. Carruth looked up with dry, bright eyes. ' Margaret does n't owe me any thing,'' she said quickly. The two women regarded each other for a silent minute. At last Miss Beebe spoke. " Every daughter owes her mother a great deal." " Yes," said the other, with bitter significance. " How are you so sure she is n't happy ? " pur sued Miss Luella. *' You '11 have to give me some 116 proof, or I can't help believing' that you imagine a great deal. * She never sink's. " What!" k - No. I'liti! Sunday she had not snug a song for montlis. 1 hen. to please me. she sang at my Mission, and she was pale tor the rest ot the evening. k - I call her a sellish girl ! " annoiuiced Miss I'Vebe with fervor. ' So should I if it we're am 'liodv hut Margaret, said the mother listlessly : hut I kno\\ Margaret, and 1 see her trying to do ri^ht in every other way. I have thought of it a great deal at ni^hl I don't have time to think during the day and I have tried to reconcile what seems her obstinacy m this matter with her behavior in oilier regards. It seems to me that perhaps her feeling for what she believes to be her vocation is something like what her love for a man might be. if siie were suffering from an unrequited affection, it would n t: l)e reasonable in me to insist that: she see the man and meet him on friendly terms, instead of avoid ing him altogether." l - You 're a smart woman. Kmeline ("arruth ! You can think out everything', and you re very good to excuse that child: for. yon can say what you "ve a mind to. she has no business to keep \ on awake nights. ' 1 still hope that this is a phase, and will pass. CONFIDENCES 1 1 7 My greatest ally would be a man, if a desirable one should present himself and Margaret could love him." " There must be a lot after her," remarked Miss Beebe. " Yes. She has received several proposals, but no one has touched her heart. She knows that her money is an attraction, and for a long time far longer than 1 at lirst suspected she has kept her hopes fixed on a career so steadily that there has been no room for the light and passing attach ments which most girls experience. It is the dan ger of a woman interested in outside work, as I have been, that she sometimes misses an intimate knowledge of her child's inmost thoughts and wishes. All through Margaret's young girlhood I tried to keep her eyes fixed outside, on the greatest good to the greatest number. 1 woke one day to find that she had escaped me. I no longer understood her thoughts."' ' AVhat a pity it does seem ! " said Miss Luella. " If Margaret were only a poor girl, now ! " Mrs. Carruth looked straight into her friend's eyes. ' ; That is the point,'' she said slowly. " You know that if Margaret had her rights, she would O O ' be a poor girl." " Rights ? Why what a queer I should think '' stammered Miss Luella, unable to meet the piercing regard bent upon her, and looking here and there in her embarrassment. %t Can't von sec what makes tliis misery to me' To think that a (lav mig'ht conic when Margaret would stand !> tore me and accuse me ot >t her birthright, of stilling !)(] talent, of stultifying her nature, c! Lending her to mv oun purposes? Si):- could do ail that if she did not love me. and what could I aii>\verV Nothing 1 ! Mrs. Carrtith buried her tearless eves in her hands. ' Now, now, Kmdine. hush!' softlv exclaimed her guest, in much di^tre-^. 1 he ciidd might come in. \\lio ever would tell her? ^ on know we always said that ! " " ^ cs, we alwav's did. Mure Fools we. re turned Mrs. CaiTuth. au'air. looking :i|i. h is a fool's paradise a woman makes for herself when she does what 1 did. Th;:t dav when yo the sweet little bal)V to mv (!ii]t\ ai'ins and >he looked up at me with such mvsterv in hci' eyes, and I ]>ut mv clu^'k against her head I can led it now. silkv as a ImttorHy's win^ I took her into mv heart and made liev mine. I -~a.id tlien : w She shall never know I am not her mother. She must he all mine." " "And that was rig'ht. said Mis> Ijoehu sooth ingly. Ki^'ht?" exclaimed Mrs. Carrntli sharply. " It was wron^' all wrung 1 ! It is one ot the crud est mistakes a woman can make. Sooner or later the truth will turn into a sword of Damocles hai)L>- COXI-'IDENCES 119 ing over her head by a single hair, ready to fall and destroy at a l>low her child's faith and love ! " '* Why, Emeline ! I had forgotten it. Every body has. If they hadn't, there isn't a creature on earth mean enough to do you such an injury." I suppose not, and yet this vagary of Mar garet's has awakened fear out of a twenty years' sleep. There is one person whom I have always intended to tell when the time came, and that is her lover, when she looks on one with favor.'' tk She will, one of these days, now don't you fret. As you say, when she falls in love, that will settle all this matter of the stage in quick metre ; and as for destroying Margaret's faith in you, what is going to do that, even if she should learn the truth some day ? That lover you tell about it may tell her." " Xot if he i.s a lover. No indeed ! O Luella ! it sounds like an easy and excusable thing to keep the truth concerning her birth from an adopted child ; but no one can do it without finding herself started on a chain of white lies as long as life itself. As soon as a child is old enough to know that she has been born at all, she wants to know where and when. She asks innumerable questions as she grows up, comments on inherited traits, has pride and love of family woven into the warp and woof of her nature, until if at maturity the truth is suddenly disclosed, the shock, the sense of be trayal " Mrs. Carruth suddenly rose and began pacing the Hoor. In Margaret's case, she is so the s come to me lately." I )o tell me, \'on poor Li'irl ! It is that tiie lover has arrived." * Kim-line ! i !c is a man latclv conic to Hoston. He serins vcrv imieli interested in Margaret, and a- lor her. I have noticed more spontaneity in her behavior when he is near than at anv other tune. ' And yon approve oi' him '.' " All that I can discover is in his favor." Oil ! I do hope it may turn out so ! " >aid Miss Heche devoutly. " 'I liesc L;irls who are too \\ell olt need a little roiiLdiin^-it to hnn;; 1 them to their senses : hut with some, marriage takes the place of it. Not that I should want Margaret's marriage to he anything hut liaj)])v, hut I ^uess she 11 look l>ack man\ a time to t!ie llowery paths of ease she has now. \\ hat 's the mans name, it von don t mind 7 Mrs. Carruth stopped walking, and leaned on a chair. It is a delicate matter to mention after what I have said. ' CONFIDENCES 121 " Just as you think Lest, dear," returned Miss Luella meekly. " lie is certainly a very fortunate man if you and Margaret both look favorably upon him.'' " I '11 find out who he is before I leave this place, or my name is not Luella Beebe," thought the little woman, " and I hope to goodness Mar garet Carruth will get married and settle down, and stop all this hifalutiii nonsense. 1 wish she 'd speak to me about it. I 'd give her some of the straightest talk she ever heard in her life.'' She sought out Margaret in the afternoon of the same day, with the hope of entrapping some confidence. She found the girl in her own room, and was received kindly. " I have to come in and see what new pretty things you 've been getting,'' she announced. " That 's right," returned Margaret, who had been sitting at her desk in a negligee gown, attend ing to a pile of notes and bills, but who rose with pleasant alacrity. " I guess you 've got the prettiest girl's room in Boston," remarked Miss Beebe, looking about at the violet and white furnishings and decorations. From the cosy corner to the upright piano, the delicate color scheme was charming to the eye. Margaret herself, in the violet negligee, whose loose silken folds fell away from round throat and wrists, looked as if unfit for coarser surroundings. " Just a little better than bein^' brought up on charity in Spring-dale," thought the visitor bitterly. \ v . sit down. i Jeebe, or do vou preic! to in , " ". l ' m ; '. ; t disc* v< ry ? V, hat is there to discover? New pictures, ue\v friends? \ on know I admire to *ee photo- gTaphs." 1 m not ^are if I have anv new ones. L' 1 us see." .Margaret took a ki^ke? of picturo and sat down beside her friend. I think von have seen most of these. No. here is a new one, ! m --lire. Miss Ieebe seixed the photograph of a sniooth- faced man. Now. 1 think \\ illard !'ivi,eh ouu'ht to u;ive me one of these! she said, looking v, i;h interest into the familiar eves. No donbi he \\oulii be pleas< ii to do so. I <;'uess he s been read kind to Althea (ia\- lord : but I don t believe she s in lo\e vnii him. k< I hope yon didn't ask her if she were," said Margaret smilini;'. Oh, I know a tiling or t\\o! I'esponded Mi>s Ijei'be. tossing her head. " I u^cd to think. .Mar garet, that perhaps vou imejit fancv \\ illard your self." ' I do fancy him. I 'm fond of him. You min'ht i;'o further and fare worse. I can tell you." I should as soon think of marrvmv, my brother. This is a pretty ij'roup. this bridal party. See the maid of honor." CONFIDENCES 123 " Why, it 's you, ain't it ? " " Yes ; that makes the third time I have been a bridesmaid." " Look out, Margaret ! Look out ! " "Why?" ' You must n't be bridesmaid too often or you may never be bride/' " Xot every girl needs to be a bride. See how independent and happy you are." Miss Beebe put one hand on the girl's soft gown. u Don't you take up with any such notion as that, my dear ! When Mr. Kight conies along, you take him ! There won't be any reason why you should n't. Mine came but he had to go to Australia and there was Pa so 1 stayed home. Perhaps your mother has told you." Margaret nodded, and her smooth hand closed over the one on her knee. ; ' How brave you were ! "' she murmured. i How good ! " " Lots of other women are doing it every day," said Miss Beebe, resuming her cheery manner, " being just as brave and just as good. ' This world is not our rest,' you know." " But to feel sure he was Mr. Right and then to let him go, to give him up ! " said Margaret with slow musing. "It is like " she paused. " Like any other laying down of life, or taking np of cross," said Miss Beebe. " We all have it to do sometime. Who would shirk ? " The girl caught her lip in her teeth for an in- 124 A <;IH-:\T LOYK stant. " I think life is very bewildering', .Miss Luella." "Of course; but one day at a time is all we have to travel, and after a while we shall get there; where thing's will he plainer. A good husband is a good partner to have on the ]ournev. Margaret. I don't want yon should go without one." The girl's lips were parted as she looked nn>ee- inglv at the photograph of the bridal party. 'Come now, confidentially. "you might tell your oldest friend something about the man who wants you. .Margaret started from .her reverie. u Nobody wants me, nobody, she said, so swiftly, that her companion smiled. "That is - nobody new nobody interesting. * \\ ell. tell me about somebody interesting, eyen if lie does n't want you. ' " Xo." The girl colored under the sharp little eyes. "There is nothing to tell. \\ e have our routine, just the same as eyer. The story of one of our weeks is just like the story of another." " But yon must always be meeting new people." "Occasionally, of course: but " -Margaret sighed " there is not much difference between them beyond their names." Miss Beebe, baffled, returned to the photo graphs, and examined them all. from time to time asking questions, but finding nothing to satisfy her curiosity. CONFIDENCES 125 At last she finished them, and leaning back, appeared ready for further entertainment. " Do you know, Margaret, it just happened I did lit once hear you sing the last time I was here ? " The girl replaced the photographs on a table. " 1 'm exactly in the light mood now for a song,'' continued the visitor. " Do sit down at that pretty piano and sing to me." " I 'in sorry, Miss Beebe, but it is out of tune. I am expecting the tuner to-day." " Oh, it will surely do for just touching along chords." " Alas ! no ! It has been neglected, and I only yesterday discovered its condition." So, pleasantly, Margaret evaded her guest's request, and Miss Luella's sharp ears could dis cover no feeling in the refusal beyond that which the words expressed. It was the Carruths' evening at home, and Miss Beebe reasoned that if the unknown gave the promise of being a lover worth having, he would not absent himself on this occasion. "It won't do any harm for me to know who it is," she argued, "for, of course, I shouldn't tell a living soul. Nobody can blame me for keeping my eyes and ears open if 1 keep my mouth shut." Miss Beebe was not usually in favor of keeping her mouth shut. She enjoyed talking as much as the average woman, and her friend's at-homes gave her ;ni f'lijovjililc opportunity. She knew tin- \vavs of the house. ;;ii tlie si^hl of the alert little woman in stiff black sillc ai::l u'oM chains. \\ ho tripped altoiit with a spri^'ht 1', company manner an. I ac costed everybody, stranger or acquaintance. I Ifv were all Kmeline .- friends, and therefore her.-. Miss (iaylord. coming out from the dressing- room and meeting \\ iilard French at the head of the stairway, commented on this: - Did \'oit see Miss lieebe as we came in? Poor Miss ('arrnth ! I!o\v she must wi>h country cousins were n t so fresli ! Oh. no. she doesn't. Don't \\a-te your pity. The Carruths are a law unto themselyes, and Ali>s Beebe s all rig'llt M> loiii^' as >he does n t write 1o a fellow." \\ ell. I ho])e she 11 let me alone. ' remarked Althea irrepressihlv. as the two moved down the broad staircase side l>v >ide. I m here on busi ness, and have n t time to dally with your Mi>s Lu." ^^ hat business ? It is my own. returned the ^'irl. in her gentle, saucy drawl. * Didn't you sav, 'United we stand." your self?" Well, then." said Althea. >li^htlv ilu>hin^, " if you rememher that. I should think you would know what niv business is here." CONFIDENCES 127 At the foot of the stairs they encountered Miss Beebe, who regarded them approvingly. French greeted her with a smile. " You find me carrying out your instructions, Miss Lu, escorting Miss (laylord wherever she wants to go ; was n't that it ? " " Yes, Willard, you 've fulfilled all my expecta tions." Miss Beebe cast a parting nod at Althea, who moved away to where Mrs. Carruth was talk ing to some people. " Train up a child you know," returned French ; " and you did, faithfully." t; Yes,'' said Miss Heche, regarding him seri ously. " You 've done all I expected, and you 've done enough. Do you understand ? " signifi cantly. " Enough. Stop now." " I 'm afraid you 're being deep, Miss Lu." " I guess you can follow me, seeing you went through Harvard College." " Ah ! Xow you wither me ! " " It don't seem more than a month since I pun ished you for breaking my window, Willard French, and there you are a grown-up man in a dress suit." French smiled. " And what has that to do with my following you ? " " I 'd take Althea Gaylord out of your house if I could. I put her in on your account ; and I 'd take her out on your account." " What is there so wrong in my wearing a dress suit ? " 128 I put her in there because you were a human lieiiiii'. 1 d like t< take he)- out because von re a man." Now. as a friend. Miss Heche. " lie said. softly and confidentially, eonim^ M> elo^e to her that his white enamelled studs a])])i'oached her nose. as your fnend and well-wisher, I would advise \ou after this to pat a little more water in it." u In what? " \\ ell in whatever you re in the habit of takin-." ^ on impudent hov ! 1 'in a white ril>l>oner/' 'Then behave like one. Miss La. Don! alarm your 1 riends. 1 feel res]oiisible for Althea (iaylord." " So do I. \ on made me. \\'el!. don't. Don't any more. She is at home now. You've been very hind " Miss Beehe spoke hastily, then paused. \\ illard. I 'in often a very foolish woman. There is probably somethin" 1 (jtieer aliout my brain, for 1 never can think of more than one tiling at a time: l)iit I can talk to you now. can't I. as one human heini; 1 to another? " " I don t know. ^ on very truly observed a minute au'o that I am a man. ' But there is a plane where we are both angels, said Miss I/uella excitedly. "I can ask you to come up on that plane with me." French flapped his elbows ayainst his sides with CONFIDENCES 129 alacrity. "My pinions are a little feeble. I'm afraid yon "11 have to give me a tow ; but I can't resist such flattery as that." " If I only knew," Miss Luella gazed at him musingly ; " if I only knew whether yon would ever think of putting beans in your nose if I did n't suggest it." " Well," French paused in his exertions. " I confess that had never occurred to me as forming one of the diversions of the elect." " Willard, dear, Willard ! That is irrever ent ! " " I 'in only following' you." " I wanted to talk about Althea." " I notice you usually do when you are with me." " Bnt now I want to talk the other way to warn yon off where once I urged you on." " Oh ! Ah ! ' with eyebrows raised in enlight enment. I don't want you, yourself and I don't want yon to make her she might grow dependent and all my fault I don't think she is " has tily "I have n't seen the least sign of it but then, it might be and her people so far away, and O Willard," desperately, " do tell me you understand me ! " " My dear Miss Beebe, it is with modest pride in my own penetration that I admit I do get a sort of glimmering of your meaning." 130 ' And yon will herd inc. \\ illard ! " ' Did 1 ever fail To? I will say to Mis> (iav- lord the vcrv lirst tune \vc ai'c alone \\ iliard French! ' .Miss Heche grasped his arm. 'ion Lnve me palpitation! She shook him nervously. 1 Ins is strictly between our selves. It s the mo>t delicate mailer in tin- world! I stand as > i tiardian to Althca. Joint - joint u'uardian." w 'And 1 ve couiided in von on a yerv hitdi plane. up ahovc pettv considerations. IJcmem- hertlie allied in you. \\illard. You're a vouiii; 1 man now. full of jokes, hut von 11 he an an:;t 1 i'or- cyer ! French squared his shoulders complacently. '\\eil. no fellow could resist >ueli ;;n assurance as that. I ii'iy* 1 \ou niy word then, as an^vl to anii'eh that I '11 do my lies!:. Angels can do no more."" * \ on can see [ m not joking. ' pej'sisted Miss own aar l - \\ hen I reach the privacy of my o ment and can examine my arm. I expect to lie convinced of it." I "m afraid I did pinch yon a little. V\ illard, contritely. ".Fust enough to convince 1 me that we are still in the ilesh. "1 on don t want me to lie too tran scendental. That "s all rin'ht." CHAPTER IX MISS BEE HE'S QUEST Ix her excitement over the interview with French, Miss Beebe forgot momentarily her quest for the favored individual to whom Mrs. Carruth was looking for help. Hardly had AVillard left her, however, when the remembrance returned that this golden oppor tunity might not recur for a long time to come, and she began to look about her for new arrivals. " There 's Mrs. Darling, as true as I live ! " she thought, as she recognized the pretty woman bowing to right and left with an assured air. " Her bonnet ain't anything more; than a butterfly, and it suits her exactly. I thought the man with her was Mr. Darling at first, but I might have known it would n't be. AYish he 'd turn around, so I could get a look at him." The unspoken wish was fulfilled at once, and the tall man turned directly toward Miss Beebe. " Where have I seen that face? Somewhere, I know. She '11 introduce me. Good evening, Mrs. Darling,"' she added aloud, as the couple approached. Mrs. Darling's regard fell upon the little woman with chill surprise. ".How do you do." she s;iid carelessly, ;ind without offering to take the hall- extendeil hand she moved ^'racefully on. Wrath >tirred Mi>s Ijeebe s l>rea>t and -diarp- eiied her memory. She met the eyes ot Mrs. I)ar- lin^ s escort. " ( i ood-e veiling, ' she said. acco.-,t in^ him. " I don t sii])])ose von reilieillhei 1 inc. hut we were introduced one evening on the street when ! was with \\ illard 1' reneh. I lieu 1 your pardon." si id Vandyke, pan>in^ courteously. ! iiavc met so many new friends in the last month, that I m rather dull at recall ing iaces somet imes. 'Tiresome old tiling! thought Mrs. Darling, regard in^' Mis.-, Luelhi fri<;'idl\ : Inn -die was called aside at that moment i*\ a in/nd and was ohliLred to res] toiid. Xo wonder yon don t remember inc. said ]\Iiss Heche hrio ; htly. "I'm Miss lieclsc. an old friend of the Carruths, and of \\ illard French's, too. The liidit shone ri^ht on your face that nig'llt, so I reinemher you. hut your name !ia> ^onc from inc." Miss Luclla ])erk'ed her head on one side inquiringly. \ andyke is \\\\ name." l - Oh ! that 's easy. I can remember it hy your beard." Miss Luclla <^ave a little lauu'h. lie was looking at her attenti\ ely. No old friend of the C'arruth^ could lc totally iinintcrcstinij,'. k - I rcmcinher \\'illard's telling me that yon MISS BEEBE'S QUEST 133 were a stranger here. I hope by this time you like Boston ? " " Profoundly, Miss Beebe." " Going 1 to make it your home, perhaps ? " " I expect to."' " Is this your first evening at the Carruths' ? " " Xo, I am glad to say." Miss Luella gave a sharp little nod. " You won't find any nicer people." " I don't wish to." " Mrs. Can-nth and I were children together. I 've knou'ii Margaret ever since she was born." " You are fortunate." Vandyke was smiling too now, and giving Miss Beebe that unconsciously genial look which so unexpectedly succeeded his impassive expression. As shi' regarded him, suddenly she started, and both her thin ringed hands clasped over her heart. " Oh ! " she ejaculated. "What is it?" he asked. " Xo thing ! nothing ! I I have attacks. It is gone." Her overmastering determination to get even with Molly Darling had for a time put to flight every other consideration ; now the sudden con viction came to her that here was her man ! Xo wonder Emeline agreed ! X T o wonder ! no wonder ! " I 'm glad I 've met you again, Mr. Vandyke," she said, swallowing in her excitement. "Any friend of the Carruths is a friend of mine." 1"4 ,1 GREAT LOVE And I must sav the same. ' returned her com panion. - 1 m sure I should always wi-di to have the CaiTiil hs' friends mine also." -And that is why he is with Molly Darling! Oh. I wish ! dared say something !" thought Miss Heche : but discretion won the day. "I don't know where Miss Carruth is." she said, looking about vaguely. --She was here a minute ago." ' 'I hank you. I shall find her," responded \ an- clyke, bowing, as he moved on. Miss Heche hunted for a chair, and finding one. sat down. All her ambition to be chatty and socia ble, to help Lmeline in her labor of ent'Tiaining, was merged in the satisfaction ot this discovery of hers. Not a doubt assailed her as to the ideii- titv of her hero. It could n 1 be anybody else! It should n t be anybody else ! Perhaps \\ she were (juick she might see their meeting to-night. At the thought. Miss Heche sprang up so quickly that she bumped her head against the elbow of an elderly gentleman who had just reached forward to examine a crystal nestling in a bit ot bronze. " Beg pardon !" murmured Miss Luella. recog nizing no obstacle, but hastening toward the music- room, while the curio seeker stared after her indig nantly. In her flight she reached Althea and caught her by the arm. k - Where's Margaret, do you know? The music-room. I guess. Let s go and see. They reached the door just as \ ainlyke ap- MISS BEE BE' S QUEST Jo-> preached the knot of people about Margaret. The latter turned and greeted lii.ni, then continued her conversation with the man slit; had been talking to, while Vandyke responded to a remark of Mrs. Darling. " Oh, pshaw ! " exclaimed Miss Beebe. Watts on the mind? " inquired Althea. " Oh oh nothing," returned her friend with embarrassment. You "re blushing,'' said Miss Gaylord. "Miss Beebe, you 're; smitten ! * With whom ? ' The man you 're staring at, of course." " Why, Althea! " The speaker hurriedly with drew her ga/e. " I hope I did n't stare." " Your hopes are vain. You did. Of course you are smitten with him. lie is the social lion of the winter. YYm 'd know he was if you only watched Mrs. Darling." "1" Miss Beebe swallowed again. "Al thea. I have a special interest in that man." u That walks without talking, as the French say." " But, dear girl, I really have, and I wish I wish Molly Dili-ling- w r as in Africa ! She is " Miss Beebe hesitated, shocked at her own implica tion to a young girl that a married woman could stray into paths of flirtation, " she is a distract ing sort of woman to steady people, and Mr. Van dyke looks like a solid, serious sort of man." Indeed lie is. If lie were not. I M have a go at him myself." r- marked Mi>s (iaylord. Mv deal' Althea ! remonstrated Mi.>s Luella. ' \Vhv. of eouise. One wants to he in fashion : lint. I don t want to go into soeietv. so I don't meet him often. Mi>> Magnet is as sweet as peaches. She savs she 11 get me liids if I want them, lit'.i slie MIX'S I should be bored, and I know 1 >hon!d lie. If Mrs. Dai-ling got invitations for me. thev would n t he prosv ones. \\ hat do vou mean ''. 'Oh. she goes to plenty of balls ami theatre parties and things. Poor Miss Magnet has to tote around .'liter big lings and philanthropists and such people so much, she does n I get iimei) chanee to fri.-k. \\eil. I m very glad for yon that yon don t get into .Mrs. Darling's set. my child. \\here would your studies go to? k - It s a conundrum : I never gness them. 'Air. Vandyke doesn't look like the frisking sort." " Xo. indeed: so the joke now is to see Mrs. Darling interesting' lierselt in literature and the iin<' arts ! " Miss I)ee!)e regarded, her laughing companion dubiously. "In that wav she will certainly he more coinpan5oual)le to tii.it good man. her hus- band, she respoiuh.'d primly. Miss (iaylord drew the corners of her small J//S.S' HUE HE'S QUEST 137 mouth down. " Yes indeed. Everybody knows that is why she does it." " Althea, said Miss Luella warningly, " let us assume that she does." " Oh, but I 'm so unassuming ! " retorted Miss Gay lord. Miss Beebe had it on her mind to make an experiment this evening. " I can do it so inno cently," she reasoned, " and it 's so natural that I should ask it, it can't do any harm any way, and I 'd like to know what excuse Margaret Carruth can give in decency. She knows that I know she has ii't got a cold." She turned to Althea again. " You say you 've never heard Miss Carruth sing?" she asked. " Never. Somehow we never have a chance." "Why don't we ask her right now?" sug- gested Miss Luella. " You do it." " I 'in going to." Miss Beebe suited the action to the word and advanced resolutely to where Margaret was talking, with her back to Vandyke and Mrs. Darling. " Margaret, excuse me, my dear," she said, with her airy company manner, " but there are a num ber of us here who are anxious to hear you sing." The little knot of people about all began a gentle applause with murmurs of approbation. Miss Carruth looked down at her mother's friend with concealed annoyance. " This is not one of OUT musical t'vcuings, Miss Heche. Please \vaii. she said pleasantly. A!i. '>:;{ you !-;uo\v I cant wait. I must uo home to-morrow, and I in so anxmns to hear vou. Mr. \ andvke. hrip IMC to persuade her." Mr. \andvke does n t wi-h to hear me sing to-night.'' said Margaret eijuablv. "lie \\ili till vou so. She turned as she spoke, ai.d !> gravely at her Friend. lie knows the unwriiicn rules oi 1 he house. -All very well." remark he scarcelv knew \\h;i1 >he ^'as ^Mviii^ 1 . luit s!ie prattled on. ' \\ hen \ou have iVieinis here From the eonntrv. von >hoidd rememlier the narrowness o! their privileges and be generous. Don't you ihink so. Mr. Vandyke?" He hesitated before an^werinn 1 : 1 hardK know what to sav. Miss l>eebe. 1. myseli. am Mill \\ait- inn 1 to hear MI--S ( arrulh sing. And I 've never ln'ard her. either." added. Althea. It is a very strange circnmstance. remarked Mrs. Darling sweet Iv. "that the ])ersi;ii who rt-ally has a voice to soothe the sorrows ot llns wicked world is usually so unv.-illing to n>e it, while those screechers who oid\ add to our woes need but the smallest encouragement to wreak their \\or.M upon u>. Margaret, eebe felt righteous indignation for the smile which the speaker gave Vandyke in closing. ' "NVell," she said, " I advise, you to speak up for your rights as Miss Carruth's guest, Mr. Vaii- dvke. She can't resist our united efforts." Margaret smiled at the excited little woman. " Listen to me, Miss Beebe " ' I want to. Mr. Vandyke " *' Mr. Vandyke will not ask me. He does n't wish to hear me to-night." " What is Margaret up to ? " thought Mrs. Darling : and French, who was present, smiled curiously. ' I will go to Springdale," continued Miss Car- ruth, ik within the month, if you ask me, and sing to you." " You will, you busy girl ? " Miss Beebe's face expressed astonishment. " I will." " And where " - Mrs. Darling's voice had an ominous sweetness " where will you go to sing to Mr. Vandyke ? " " Mr. Vandyke has other things to think of," said Margaret coldly. " You have a perfect right to feel hurt," said Mrs. Darling, looking up confidingly into the man's eyes. 140 "Oil, Miss Heche is a good friend ot innic,'' he remarked. ' Perhaps >he will telegraph me to come. Mrs. Darling gave the pretty laugh that was part of her stock iu trade. "(iood! '1 lien I shall lie in it, for Margaret wdl need a chaperone. and of course she would rather have me than any body : wouldn't you. Margaret?" And where do I come in '.' " asked Miss (i ay- lord plaintively. "Cant I go. Miss Magnet, to turn over the leaves ? Let us all IM> to Springdale," sug^vsted i-'ivnch with enthusiasm : and there was a laughing mur mur of assent from the others of the group. Margaret gave Mis- Heche's hand a touch that was both reassuring and admonitory. "So it is all settled." she said low. with a little nod. and began to talk to Mo>by. the arti>t. about a collec tion of pictures then exhibiting in Boston. " AV ell, that is queer ! commented Miss Heche, not only to herself but to Miss (iavlord. as they walked away together. * It seems as if she must hate to sing." returned Althea confidentially. I p at mv room I ve tried to get her to. but she always puts me oft. and tells me to wait till I can accompany her to the i|iiceifs taste. I 11 tell von what ! 1 'd like to accompany her to Springdale ! Do you think" >he meant it ? " u Oh, yes. Margaret always means what she says/' MISS EEE'S QUEST 141 " Do you suppose she 'd let me go ? And would you?" ' " I would, of course, Altliea ; but I declare I don't know whether that strange, crazy child would or not." Althea smiled and stared. " Do you realize what adjectives, you are applying to your sacred white elephant ? " Miss Beebe started. " I was thinking out loud, my dear." k ' I did n't know you indulged such profane thoughts," returned Miss Gaylord. " For my own part, I don't think Miss Magnet is such hot I mean I don't think she 's anything more than a tip-top human girl. She does seem freaky about singing; but maybe she doesn't think her voice is any such great shakes after all, and she 's modest. If everybody is like you, and looks at her through magnifying glasses, no wonder she 'd rather be wise, like the owl, and keep still." " Oh, she can sing," said Miss Beebe with de cision ; " she can sing the heart out of you, or the heart into you, just whichever you need to have done." " Then she ought to do it for a living. It 's a pity she does n't need to," said Miss Gaylord care lessly. Miss Luella looked around at her quickly. " Did she ever say anything like that to you ? " " No, indeed. She never seems to want me to ML' lielicvc she can sin",'. I scarcely ever think of it unless I hear sonic one tensing her. I ju>! \\i-di 1 couLl j'ij'c up : 1 (i Inn- ;i hail quick. I '(i like to see Mar;.::-'' 1 ! married." remarked Miss P>cc!>e. with apparent irrelevance. "Of course. She d have a stunning wedding. I snj)|)ose. 'I here s no telling, though. Mrs. Carrnth has such a philanthropic lice in her ehapeau, she d just as hke as not make her lie married in one of the Settlement houses. She might take it into her head that the wedding would lie an elevating sight for the //<>! /inllni ; then that would settle it." Althea ( iaylord. you 'i e a case! Seems to me vou vc found a tongue in Boston, and a e,ood long one. Had to. returned Miss (laxlord cheerfidlv. ' I "vc had to lie niv own best irieiid. YOU know. Well, tell inc. have YOU noticed that Margaret favors anybody '.' " " A man ])erson, do von mean ? t- ( )f course." Yes. everybody. She favors them all : men with waist-lines occasionally, luit mostly men with out waist-Jmes. They ve mostly lost their waists lv the time they've accomplished anything that moves the world along, and that s the kind whose 'isms' she has to take an interest in. Poor Miss Magnet! ' Althea gave a one-sided smile and wink at her companion. 1 "d ju>t like to take J//,S\S HKKKK'S (+UEST 143 her mother's place and run her a month." The smile became a laugh. " There might be some trouble in getting her back into the traces. I 'd show her how to frivol, and don't you doubt it ! Saved again ! " Mr. Vandyke lias a waist-line," suggested Miss Beebe, too much entranced by her ruling idea to reprove this audacity. " You said a little while ago lie was a ' lion.' " "Oh, yes, but he 's bespoken/' "What! Wh what!" Miss Beebe's repeti tion came feebly, and she clutched her companion's arm. " Do you mean he 's engaged ? " ' Well, you have got it bad ! " commented Althea. " Pshaw, no ! I only mean that the lion has turned into a lamb for the time being. Did n't you see that Mrs. Darling had a pink ribbon around his neck ? ' And everywhere that Molly went, That lamb was sure to go.' " " That 's a different thing ! " said Miss Beebe with relief. " Of course, it 's bad enough," she added hastily, recollecting herself, with a tone of severity, " but he can't marry her. Where, Althea Gay lord, do you suppose Mr. Darling is ? " " He is at home with a cold. I heard her tell somebody. I think it's a frost, myself," added the girl for her own amusement, although aware that she was squandering a penny. 144 - Eli? Frosted his ears, did you say? That heartless |ade ! No. no: just a plain cold. No trimming's."' Later in the evening 1 Miss Beebe encountered French again. I 've had a talk with that pleasant friend of yours. Mr. \andvke, she said with interest. ()h! Remembered him, did you? I ve no ticed women do. without respect to age or color." -Now. look her,'. Willard." -- .Miss Luella lowered her yoice. that man is wasting his time with Mrs. Dai ling."' fc - What then ? " t- Why, tell him so," suggested the little woman impetuously. ' Thanks, awfully ! Xo! " Miss Beebe gestured emphatically. "Mr. Dar ling is in Boston to-night. ' I know it." ' As little as he is here, should n t you think she "d stay home with him? * Should, if I did n't know her." ' 1 tell you. he "s sick." u Well, she will go home and giye him an enter taining account of the evening." " What do you suppose he thought of her com ing here "with that yery striking man? " u Took it for granted, and will call it square' if she will only bring the very striking man home with her." J/7SS BEEBE'S QUEST 145 " "What do you mean ? " " I mean that Darling is tremendously taken with Vandyke, who I suspect likes him much bet ter than he does Molly. They hobnob together over their books and that. If it was n't for Van's eyes, he 'd have bored Mrs. Darling stiff long ago. She 's exhibiting him a lot these days, but he doesn't know it. lie 's a queer duffer." " How long before lie will get tired of it, do you think, Willard?'' asked Miss Luella, so earnestly that French smiled. " Ask me an easier one ! " he returned. That night before retiring, Miss Beebe opened her door and closed it irresolutely two or three times before she at last hastened down the corridor to Mrs. Carruth's room and knocked. 1 1 or friend, in wrapper and flowing hair, admitted her. She looked surprised to see Miss Beebe with her ornate " bang " removed, and her back hair twisted into a nub the size of a walnut. " I just wanted to say, Emeline, I really felt as if I could n't go to sleep till I had said that I I admire Mr. Vandyke immensely." Mrs. Carruth colored, smiled, and accepted the hand that her friend tucked into hers. " Sharp eyes, Luella ! You have sharp eyes ! " u But how could it be anybody else when a body has once seen him and talked with him ? " Mrs. Carruth nodded gravely. " He seems gen uine, lie wears well," she said. 146 I shall be expiring' to hear more, burst fun'; Miss IWhe. ' I ]>rav that von may hear more: but there is nothing to tell as yet. You would better forget all about it. * I low can I. when it means so much to von?" Miss Beebe lowered her murmur to a whisper, and squeezed her friend s hand, and winked au'ain and again as she continued: I tried to get her 10 sing, and she would n t. She made him take sides with her: at least she would n't let him say any thing'. I think it really looked as if th,-v hud an understanding 1 . "Mrs. Carruth shook her liead. No. that could n't be. Margaret i> very reserved, and they are scarcely more than strangers." Miss Beebe regarded her for a silent instant. Well. I "m going to say my prayers ! " she an nounced at last, with something like a tin-eat in her sibilant emphasis. That's right." sadly, --(iod knows I say mine often enough. Good-night. Luella." CHAPTER X MISS GAYLORD RECEIVES Tins outing 1 was Miss Beebe's last for many a long 1 day. Her father's rheumatic malady in creased in severity, and she had heart and hands too full to send more than occasional thoughts toward her Boston friends. For this reason Mar garet Carruth could not fulfill her promise of going to Springdale, a relief which she did not ex press. Althea was disappointed, more on account of losing a possible excursion alone with her ideal than at the loss of hearing her friend sing. She worked away in her little room with dogged per sistence, and whenever she heard Miss Carruth refer to a song, she promptly bought it and learned the accompaniment, thus establishing, as she fondly imagined, one more link between them. Mrs. Darling had not sought her since their one exchange of calls, and the shrewd young girl thought she knew the reason for this. Her own chances for being drawn into her vivacious friend's inner circle had been lost in the influence that Burton Vandyke was at present exciting. Mrs. Darling had temporarily lost interest in those affairs to which, had she decided to be gracious to 148 Althea, she "would have asked her. The ti'irl had seen that Willard Freueh stood lii^'h in Mrs. Darling's regard, and she believed that through him the lady would have come to recollect her existence from time to time, had it not been for the eclipse caused l>y \ andyke. Miss (iavlonl did not care. It amused her to 'watch Mrs. Darling's niameuvres, as she occa sionally had opportunity, and the satisfaction of informal calls from Miss Carruth and the com mendations of her teacher made life worth living. She had laid down a law for herself, which was. not to count on Willard French, (iuide and philosopher she was willing he .should he: hut friend he must be considered only in the most distant sense. She soon perceived how easy it would be to rely on tin* pleasure oi seeing and beiiiLi; with him, and as their paths so seldom lay together, how insidiously a series of disappoint ments would undermine the firm fabric of her independence. When this conviction came to her she was at first inclined to avoid him : to plan her time for breakfast and dinner in such a way that they should not match his. ' I know you like a book, Alhe,' she said to herself sharply. " You think if you do that, he will miss you and hunt you up ! But he would n t do it more than once. lie has too much else to interest him. Just drop him ri<>'ht out of your calculations, honey. He is n't the only pebble on the beach." J/7Xtf GAY LORD RECEIVES 149 Upon which Miss Gay lord's musings strayed west and she thought upon several pebbles whose faithful epistles bore witness to their determina tion not to be forgotten. For a girl whose exist ence had been so full of pleasant variety, the change to this present humdrum life was a test of good temper and resource. Althea knew it, and sometimes laughed at herself at the pride she took in u not giving in." At first her habit had been to wander into the parlor after dinner, knowing that French would follow her there to have the little confab which preceded his going out. But the first evening that French, finding himself short of time, had failed to appear, and she had heard him fleeing up to his room two steps at a time, the blank feeling of disappointment she had experi enced started her on the line of reasoning indicated above. Soon it began to happen often that AVillard sought without finding her in the parlor ; and yet so cleverly did she arrange matters, that there was no avoidance to be suspected. Miss Carruth fell into the way of lending Al thea the books she had been reading, and although two months ago Miss Gaylord would have dubbed them all prosy and discarded them instantly as out of the question, now her devotion led her to read them, carried along by the occasional mar ginal notes in the precious handwriting, which were like oases in the desert, cheering the weary traveler on her way. 150 Slic was sittiiiLi j;i her room thus employed on*- evening. \\hen ;i knoeking :it the neighboring door attracted her attention. There \vas silence, tlien the knocking \\a- repeated. She rose and went into the dinilv lighted hall. Mr. I'Yench is" sh,' he^an. then panned. ( )h. is it yon. M' 1 , \ andvke '! M r. I' reiieh is out. Ah! ! thought perhaps he h.ad fallen a. id me von were a neiu'lihoi 1 ot his up IHM'C. he eontinu"d. ^ es. this is inv work-room, replied Mi--, day- lord. \\ on t voit walk in '.' She had not in the least expected to say it. luit as his glance wandered involuntarily toward the li^'ht. the words passed her lips: and in another instant, to her amusement. Burton \andyke was in her room, looking' at her piano and the niiiMc neatly piled np. * Sit down, won't von? she asked, and he complied. I can't work nights, yon understand, she went on. I tried it. luit the hoarding-house worm will turn quicker than any othei 1 sort, and I was firmly requested to cease. ''I suppose, though, there is no law against your playing to me?" asked Vandyke, regarding' JIISS GAYLORD RECEIVES 151 her with some interest, and recalling what French had said about her lonely life. ' You ought to know. I believe you 're in that business." Very well, then. It is my professional opin ion that you can begin at once." What are you going to charge me for it?" ' Oh several pieces, probably." She shook her head slowly and favored Van dyke with a wink which considerably surprised him. ' I can come right into your own field and beat you," she remarked. u 1 know more law than you do." ' How is that?" k - You 've forgotten the S. P. C." Vandyke smiled. %i Which am I, child or ani mal?" Miss Gaylord shrugged her shoulders. " It would be all one to you after I began. Thank you, but 1 don't play to people who are accustomed to hearing Miss Carruth. Is n't she the sonl of music ? It always seems as if she was part of the piano when she gets at it. Have you heard her sing yet ? " " No, not yet." " Is n't it queer she doesn't like to? I have a lot of songs that she knows, and sometimes when she is here I play the accompaniment of one to tempt her. Once in a while she does come and look over me and limn alon^' a little : lint sli<> always has some excuse for not sin^'hi^' out." ^ es. always, echoed \ andvke. as the ^irl waited. So .-lie conies here often, does >he'.'" lie looked aiiout t he room. No. not often. At least it does n t seem often to me. tor I want her so much otteuer : lint she like- to conie. 1 hat s what 1 111 proud of. It is verv odd. She glanced up at him thought t'ullv. as if with a new li^lit In-caking in upon her. " Why. she is odd ! I never looked at it so Ite- t'ore. because everything in her lite i> so so con ventional, so cut and dried and marked out for her. and she is so gracious and dignified and self- possessed. She s a lofty girl, that s what 1 call her. but >he /'N odd. \\ hen \on think that she d like or she thinks *he d like to come out of her beautiful home and rouidi it in a little place like this, that s odd. To be sure, you might sav I left a nice home myself and did it ot my own accord, but 1 in only Althea ( ia\ lord, \vant- iu^' to j^'et the best advantages: while she has had every advantage, and she is Margaret Car- rnth. ri^'ht in the top of the swim, where every body wants to be. She paused, and her visitor nodded. His silence was not repressive, however. .II is interest and attention were evident. "She's done me a lot of ",'ood. Have you no ticed I have n't said a slaii^' word since yon came in ? " MISS GAY LORD RECEIVES 153 Vandyke looked surprised. " One m;iy pop out at any minute. You just mention it if it does.'' Why certainly, Miss Gaylord, I'm I'm sure " " Oh, you need n't feel embarrassed about it. It 's a good deal of a bore to stop, but I 'm doing it. Miss Magnet does n't like it." Vandyke glanced up with a smile. " That is a very pretty name Mr. French has for Miss Car- ruth." Althea nodded. " Speaking of her having an odd streak, of course the oddest thing of all is her refusal to sing, and do you know, I have a theory about that." She looked so expectant that Vandyke re sponded : k> Not a secret, I hope." " No. It 's a poor thing, but mine own. My theory is that she can't sing anything to speak of." ' The visitor did what was a rare thing with him. lie laughed appreciatively. " I 'm afraid that is a rather poor thing that theory of yours, Miss Gaylord." " Don't you be so sure ! She went to London and studied." " Yes ? " " She knew well enough that when she came back people would expect great things of her. lias she ever sjitiu 1 since she came hack ? Hardly at all. No\v. when I ^;o home. I just dread il ! Kveryhody ^ ill expect me to play a hundred times better ilian 1 can. \\cll. suppose 1 should lot.k dignified and i^rave and refuse to play at all: do \on ,-iippose inv friends would believe that it was because I was such a fine performer? Not much. They "d think it was a bluff, and that ! was a fail ure. ' That is very amusing, remarked the g'uest : and indeed he seemed to find it so. ^ on think, then, that your Miss Magnet is only a hypocrite after all '.' " No. no! Don t use hard name--! She s clover, that s what I mean : and goodness! we ouu'ht not to deny her a little recreation. I hope I shall see yon when we do first hear he;- sin^-. M iss ( Jaylord." "1 on believe she can do it '/ " I do." " \\ hy don t you make her. then '.' " \and\ke raised Ins eyebrows. - \ never hoard that a bird who could sin<^ and wouldn't sin^ conhl be made to sin^'. Mine could my mocking-bird." % - I low did you do it ? ' Gave him a meal-worm." l "()h. he's prosy," thought Alth(>a. ' Mr. French would have laughed at that." Vandyke, after a vairue I I'm ! ' had urown MISS GAYLORD RECEIVES 1 0O thoughtful. Miss Gaylord followed the direction of his eyes. " You 're looking at that box on the wall, are n't you ? Everybody wonders what it means. It is for contributions to the poor children's fresh-air fund." " And are callers allowed to contribute ? " asked Vandyke, courteous and doubtful. bb It depends on ho\v they talk." lie smiled questioniiigly. ' Does my conversa tion there 's never very much of it entitle me to the privilege ? '' Knti tie. you to the privilege ! Listen to the gentleman ! You '11 have to come light down off that pedestal, my dear sir, if you want to be in that ! That is a slang-box, Mr. Vandyke. Now, if you should tell me that you think I *ve been giving you a song and dance about Miss Magnet, you could give the poor babies a nickel." "Well," rising, "I do emphatically think you have been giving me a song and dance about Miss Magnet. There ! A coin jingled into the box, and Althea giggled joyously. " Never let her know your precious theory, or our chances of hear ing her will be slimmer than before. Good-night, Miss Gaylorcl." They shook hands. " Thank you for taking me in. I have enjoyed my call very much. May I come again ? " " There 's the latch-string," remarked Althea, with an airy gesture toward the door. 150 \\lien his sic] was no longer heard, -lie gave vent to her pent-up emotion in an astonishing j>nx (/c , u!. "Oh. 1 don t know, she sann 1 . dancing bade and iorth hetore her mirror and nodding k;io\\- ingly at her reflection. ' I guess I 'm in this too. JMolly Darling ! She smiled at a sudden t houLjit and paused in her pirouetting. ".Ju-t wait tiil 1 sec 1' renchy, she murmured. She had n't long to \\ait. onlv until the next eveiiMig. \\ illard followed her from the dinner table into the parlor and seated himself beside her on the tete-a-tete seat where their confidential chats had usually been held. '1 lie parlor at Mr.-, liar- lows was but little used by the boarder.-, and, except tor occasional passing m and out ot one and another, their talks were seldom di>turbed. \\ hat have you been dom^ with vour-clf lately? inquired I* rench. \ ou seem to have been very busy evenings." I should hope I was busier than you. (iay Being:" " But that doesn't answer me." \\liy. what do you suppose'.' Studying the dictionary, of course." kt The dictionary ? k> To enlarge my vocabulary." I dare say. Dictionaries by the Duchess. k- Don't you be funny now. remarked Althea \varningly. * Your glass house is thin to gauzi- ness.'' (! AY LORD RECEIVES 157 " I don't have much time for light literature. That 's a fact." k> I don't know what you call it then,'' retorted Miss Gay lord. " Your ' only Looks are woman's looks and ' far l>e it from me to say what they Ve taught you." French met her eyes quizzically. " Go on," he said, " teach me some more." She gave a brief, reluctant laugh. As if I ever taught you folly! Here I give you the ex ample of the little busy bee, week after week, and what good does it do ? You 're just as frivo lous as ever ! Oh," she added less severely, k ' I have n't been studying- all the time. I occasion ally relieve the tension by a little society. Ob serve my language, Mr. French." " I sometimes feel, myself, that you ought to have more social whirl, as it were, but Mrs. Dar ling, to whom I suggested it, seems to be declin ing a lot of things herself lately. Caprice, thy name is Woman ! " u Not the name of that woman. Excuse me. M stands for Molly, but it also stands for the Method that is in some people's Madness. She might have whirled last night though, without los ing anything." Why ? " " Because Mr. Vandyke was with me." " Where ? " asked French, surprised. " Up in my room," replied Althea in a tone implying the utmost nonchalance. Io8 Vandyke called on you, and you took him up there '.' lie came ii|) of liis o\\n accord. He evidently has i! t your revised edition of the etiquette lionk." '( Jood work! commented ! rem-h pleasantly. .\Iiss (iaylord knotted her l)ro\v protest in^'lv. Oblige me l>v not n>iug !o\v expressions. .Mr. I-'reiich, Ion ought to have heard him i;>-t i '-.hi. though, she added gleefully, talking -dang to beat the iiand. > Vandyke!" Altliea s laugh readied Mrs. Barlows ears m the dininn'-room. \ his was the expression ot her coni])anion's face that she had heeii wait MIL;' tor. k- \\ ell. \on are a Li'ood teacher of iollv. Mi (iaylord.'' ^\o. no! ()f colloquialisms onl\. my friend. 1 taug'lit him one. |u~t one: I don t lu-lie\c he knew any Lefore. and he said it and came up to the shuiLi'-hox like a little man ! Is that the way you earn your money lor the fund? If that isn't sharp practice ! ' Leave off the ut we were serious - oh. very >erioii>. most of the time." .Miss (.iaylord s mouth grew small with sudden dcmureiies.s. And he wdl tell vou that there are no man-traps and im brimstone in mv room, she added iniscliievou.slv. * GAY LORD RECEIVES 159 " You have lots of fun with me, don't you ? " said French. The corners of the girl's twitching lips answered for her. " It is time you were putting on that dress suit, is n't it ? " she suggested. " The moths will be getting into it if you 're not careful." ' No. Vandyke is coming' to see me to-night." Miss Gaylord regarded him. " I think you are mistaken. 1 ' " Oh, he left word with you ? " " No, hut it was you he came to see last night." " It was ? " "Yes. Of course I couldn't hear to hear him knocking there in vain, and battling with the fury of the elements out in the hall ; so, in common humanity, I asked him in/' ' That was the way of it then ? He misunder stood me as to the night." " So much clear gain," suggested Althea. " You have an evening on your hands." French looked up. " Will you invite me to call?" " It strikes me you are calling." " But the ground is too neutral." " The sort you like." " Not now." " Oh, Mr. Vandyke is your Christopher Colum bus, is he ? " " Don't rub it in. Ask me up. I want to talk into your slang-box, too." 100 Miss Gaylord sat immovable. - ' ^ ou arc dis- tincilv not invited. >he announced. "And voa laik aliout vour humanity! I shall come in uninvited, then. ( )h no. \ on \von t. " \ cs. 1 shall sit here till vou L;O. and then escort von. \ audvke has seen vour music-room. \\'hy should n't I ?" " Sinijilv lieeanse it is niv nui.^ic-rooni. and I don t cai'c to have \'on. French smiled. ' She must, snlk her little sulk out. must slic 7 \\ell. he looked at Ins \vatch. "what do yon sav to our "'oin^; to the theatre? ~V\ ouli! \'ox. v reniarl-:ed Frencli. Then don't take me l>y sni'])risc. Is it time to o-(-t readv 7 " It \vas time ten minutes ap>," Althca lied. CHAPTER XI DOUBTS AXD FEARS THE New England spring had come with the penetrating damp chill that makes the cold of win ter sink into insignificance. Vandyke, who had been spending a few days in Philadelphia, brought reports of budding trees and mild airs when he called on Miss Carruth. u You have discovered Boston's cloven foot," she said. " On the contrary, I was surprised to find how glad I was to get back.'' Margaret could not meet the frank look with which he said it, but she did not acknowledge to herself that she had been waiting waiting for him through all the time of his absence, and that for her now all was well. " Since you went away, mother has perfected her plans for a. concert for the benefit of onr hos pital, and she has asked me to help her. It is the only time she has asked me to sing since that afternoon at the mission long ago." " And you have consented ? " " What else could I do ? " Kef use." 1 (',2 And what would yon have said if I had re fused ? ' I ho])e J should have liad the discretion to say not inng. ' But von would have thought v - That I had missed another chance of hearing you. 'You must have lost interest in the matter l>y this time. People who have to he urged to sing are tiresome. Perhaps I am not so eager lor it. as [ \vas. Scarcely had the answer passed his !ip> than Van dyke felt disconcerted l>v ins own hluntness. lie looked anxiously at Margaret, and was relieved to perceive the calm little smile with which she regarded him. There are plenty o! singers your mother could engage." he suggested. But she would rather save some hundreds of dollars for the hospital." said .Margaret. I should think you would teel so out ot prac tice. so out of the wav of it. You are afraid for me. said the girl. " Yes. 1 am." he agreed honestly. " \ ou might have a mortification in so public an affair. 'Thank you. You are a real friend. I am greatly surprised, though, that you offer me a loop-hole. I supposed you would sa\ that my mother's wish should l>e law. " But are n't you nervous al'out doing such a DOUBT* AND FEARS 163 thing ? This is very different from singing in holes and corners for charity." A low langli escaped Margaret. " What a fool ish egotist you must think me ! " she said. " Why do you say that ? " " Why, you must believe that I miscalculate my own powers." " Xo, no, I don't. But a singer needs to prac tice, I suppose." " When I cannot speak I shall know I cannot sing," replied Margaret. " Singing is more of spirit than of matter, and I practice a great deal mutely." " What a conviction yours is ! " said Vandyke in amazement. " You dare to raise my expecta tions very high." " I may not please you," returned the girl, unmoved. " I ought not to care. There will be individuals whom I do not reach." Vandyke looked at her curiously and smiled. "I object to having you call me an individual. Then you are going to sing at this concert ? " Margaret bowed her head. " Very well. I hope it will not bring you suf fering in any form." " Thank you," she answered, stifling the dis appointment his attitude was to her. She knew now that she had been anticipating his unstinted approval and support. He left her, himself vaguely discontented. A 164 little cloud scorned to have I-HCH between them. and he could not resist an an.xielv as to Margaret s success, lie did not ieel certain that the IOHM; ])erioi! of brooding and re])ression upon tin-- sub ject had not Jiad its eftect in unbalancing her judgment. \\hat a catastrophe it would lie. if shrewd Althea (Jaylords theory should lie vindi cated by reason oi the lou^' and obstinate -'dence Mi-;s ('arrnth had maintained ! As. the nii^'ht for the concert approached, \an- dvkes nervousness i^rew. lie kept awa.\ from the Carrufh>'. lest they should discover it. and thereby found to how L-reat a decree the hon>e on Beacon Street meant Boston to !n:n. lie called on M r>. i 'arlin^. and found the con cert the uppermost thine; in her nund also. It was to he an ultra-fashionable affair, and -he was busy with details that did not interest \audvke. Margaret ? she repeated, in ansv.er to one of his remarks ( )h. yes. she is o'oinii 1 ! () ^ m ,^'- Jt seems it needed the stimulus ot some i;reat oc casion TO inak'e her consider the effort worth her while. ^ou ha\e heai'd he!'. I suppose? 'Of course. do/ens of times before she stud ied in London, bnt since >he returned let us see! Think what a rushing life \\e lead ! I don t believe I have hen rd her once ! " ^ hat is her voice ? \\ hat is its ran^'e? ' I "in siii'e 1 don't know. I don't pretend to DOU/iTS AND FEARS 105 be musical. It is I fancy it is a mezzo. Let us call it a mezzo. That sounds so delightfully vague." ' Is it " Vandyke felt himself shrinking inwardly from the reply he might receive "do you consider it a remarkable voice?" Mrs. Darling knotted her brow in an effort to be fair and explicit. " Margaret has what I call a touching voice," she answered. " Small, then ? " Vandyke collapsed still fur ther. " Xo, oh no : I should n't say small. It is more than a year since I 've been in the way of hearing her much, but I know she has often made me cry. AVait till you hear it," added Mrs. Darling, a lit tle impatient of this interest ; " then I should be glad to know your opinion." AYith this small satisfaction Vandyke was forced to content himself, and although it was Sunday afternoon, and his hostess was piqued by his dis trait excuses, he soon found himself on the street again, wandering aimlessly about, and looking at the mental picture which had for days been haunt ing him : Margaret Carruth on the stage before an audience of Boston's elect, critical at all times, but now doubly so that home talent had been selected to support the famous baritone engaged to electrify them. lie saw the girl make a petty, amateurish success, heard her work politely ap plauded, patronized, damned with faint praise, while possiblv her <)\vn l);lic! iii her powers coil- tinned unimpaired, and MI her iniatuation she con tinued \\T;i]>[>cd in dreams of the impossihle. Miss ( iavlovd ini^hl ihe'.i ti'iiini])h, but she would no! : she \vas too warmly attached to Miss Carnl'i for that. Yes. Miss (iavlord in her \v;;v certainh appreciated ?>iiss (.'arvuth. He would j^o to see Miss (iaylord. The decision c:;me to Vandvke suddenly, and altered his ;..;,:; 1:1 an instant. \Vil- lard Freneli too. fie liad n t seen hnn since since tins responsibility. l!ns nightmare, had eoiue upon him. Laler. ])ei > ha])s, he would run in and see i' reiiel: : l;ui. \\\^\ now Jie knew thai he svauted Mi-- (i.i'^loi-d and her whole-hearted |)i'attle. Arrived at the door in Newlnirv Street, the jnaal directed him to \\alk up to Althca s rooin. lie declined, and (irmly |)resented the liit of paste board, which the And I '11 drink out of the mug," said Althea. 'Miss Magnet, we didn't expect to become so popular, did we ? " " Mug! Tush, tush! " remarked French, busy over the kettle. " One of you go into my room and bring forth the best Ixoyal Worcester." " Let me," said Vandyke, with vague alacrity. " What did you say ? Where ? " " I "11 do it." Miss Carruth rose. " Willard's cups are sure to be dusty." u Just because you won't marry me, Magnet ! " groaned French. "' Perhaps I 'm waiting to be asked," she an swered as she left the room. '" Take this seat, Mr. Vandyke. This shoe-box is just the right height for me," said Althea. u We may be short on cups and chairs, but we have hospitality to spare. It 's awfully nice of you to come up." 108 Vandyke >i:ii!ed ins thanks at the speaker and tl:en al Miss ' arrnth, who umv entered, bearing' a c:ij) and saucer. !!cr Lj'racefid and decided move ments pleaded liiiu. and he lho::idil oi' their eif'ec- tiveness on the occasion oi' the concert. - It is very convenient to have a neighbor with swei! table-furniture." said Althea, receiving the en j* admiriii'.vly. i look the prettiest one lie had> announced .Mar-are;. k - Of course. There is nothing too ti'ood fora I in thinking oi di'inking 1 out ot this m\ >(!!',"' remarked M iss ( htviord. Willaid shook his he:l at her. That isn't the \vav I ha\e iin.inu'in \'ou up. little one." he reminded her gently. "Give t!ie liest to ih^ eoin- |>anv. always. Don t von rememLer ? (lirls lirst and boys the bi^'est." smiled Althea. "That \vas the rule niv mother used, to li'et around mv brothers. It \vas the way she kept, peace. Roys are <;ieh u'recdv animals. One of my cups is l>i'_^er tlian this." Rash ^ir! ! said French. " \ andykc and I were hoys once ourselves. "Oh, there are plenty of thing's to remind us of that." "Von will excuse my ward. Vandyke. Her nerves are all on ed^'e from the repiv.->ion of the slant;' she bronti'ht with her from tin- wilds of Colo- DOUBTS AND FEARS 1G9 raclo. I try not to be too hard on her. We 've all had her trouble in some form. Now," - to Althea, " watch me, my young friend. You don't want to be afraid to take off the lid of the tea-pot and stir the contents a little." French suited the action to the word. " If that tea is as good as he thinks it is, shan't we enjoy it ? " remarked Miss Carruth. " I 'in going to pour it," announced Althea hurriedly, as AVillard lifted the pot. ' It "s my room, and I trill pour the tea, ! You can pass it." So she ensconced herself in triumph behind the table, and French, when all were served, subsided upon the shoe-box, and they had a cosy time. " ^No\v for music," said Vandyke contentedly, when the hot water was exhausted, and only one wafer remained for manners. " Althea is going- to play for us to-day," said Miss Carruth. u In her own room she can scarcely refuse." Then I should n't be like some people," said Miss Gaylord, with a little significant laugh. ^ I don't refuse to play," said Margaret, smiling too ; " and I believe you refuse to sing." " Only because it makes my audience so sad," said Althea. " 1 '11 sing when I want you to go home." " Have you heard about the concert for St. Timothy's Hospital, Miss Gaylord ? " Vandyke asked it. L70 Indeed, 3 have. If is coming at last that :;;/];) we ve waited !<>r so long'. She met Vandyke's earnest gaze ;uul. sivued, LVint'nil icring' i heir i alls. rin sjuiL 1 made him restless. If she ^(\\\ be lieved what she had said, how could >he smile at an impcjii ling' I ragedv '/ Slh' L'ose and svent to the piano. My mother ni:- iiji !o |)i: : \ \\ hen i was a-ked. .''lie used, su-.-h a comforting argument. She al ways said. l> they don't like it they "II never ask von aii'ain ! \o\v I in going to j>!a\ something', j'list t";> ]>ave t'iie wa\' j'oi 1 Ali-s Mau'iiet. and th;-n \ve il have a hang-up I mean a real good Mine. { 'ni seared si ill', ii;,i no matter." She played very carefully a song "without words, and '\vhile hei' anu ence were saving pL thing> she Mull- i over a pile oi' mn ; . an rdviiig therefrom a song, began to ji'ay 1 he accompani ment, smiling over at Miss ('arruth. ' J heard thai * Israfel was going to he one of vour songs at the concert. M> I ve learned it. she said triumphantly. * Let us make her rehearse now. .Now that we are quite hy ourselvt^s," -aid French coaxing'ly, advancing 1 and offei'ing his aim to Margaret, \andyke said nothing. lie almost di'eaded hei- acceptance. l - The room is too .v.aail. \\ r jllard," she answered hastily. DOUBTS AND FEARS 171 " Oh ! the caprices of a prima donna ! " ex claimed French, straightening- up. Miss Can-nth heard the hint of sarcasm. " It really is too small, Willard," she said pleadingly. " And your own music-room would be too large, I suppose." " If you will let me play to you I shall be glad to,"' she said humbly. She did play several times, and then a glance at her watch showed her that her carriage must be waiting. She made her adieux to Althea, and Vandyke immediately did likewise. " If I can set you down anywhere, Mr. Van dyke, I shall be pleased," she said as they reached the curb. " Thank yon. I should like to drive home with you." lie followed her into the coupe and closed the door. Neither spoke until Newbury Street had been left behind. Then, he looked at her, and saw that her eyes were suspiciously moist. " These are exciting days for you," he said hastily. She answered with a careful self-possession which showed some self-conquest. " I should like to believe that you at least un derstand that I am am in training. I had good reason to decline to rehearse with Miss Gaylord this afternoon. I cannot explain unless you understand." 172 * I :un ashamed not to understand, since yon allow it. \ on arc afraid of vour own emotion- Jility ? " She did not reply. l>ut averted her eyes to th" passing vehicle^. You do mystify me." said Vandyke quietly: then letting his agitation appear, lie hurried on. " 1 am anxious about the whole tiling. I don t understand. Vv hat is it you intend to do 7 Is it possible yon mean to face Mich an audience as that vail be. without rehearsal?" His tone had v no means. 'I he rehearsals will be all uoiie through with in due order. "l on do not believe in me. Mi 1 . Vandyke. \ ou are afraid forme. \ on ])erhaps think that I shall mortify my friends." Her tone ^vew cold. By all means remain away from the concert. I shall not be hurt. Impossible! I must be there: but it means so much to me. It is such a ^'reat tiling yon un dertake, such a test of any artist s abilities. His excitement awoke an answering' thrill in her. It means so much to me! The phrase would sound in her heart of hearts for da\s to come. She thought she understood at-la.-t, -nd rosy color stole over her cheeks, while her eyes pvw soft, still i'azin^' as before upon the passers-by. At last she looked around at him. 1 do com prehend the situation." she said gently. k- I un- DOUBTS AND FEARS 173 derstand all its requirements. You need not fear for me. As soon as I promised to sing I began to work. I shall be ready." When they stood before her house he refused to enter, but Mrs. Carruth, happening to be at a win dow, saw him stand with lifted hat and Margaret's hand in his for a long enough period to make her wonder what was passing between them. She retreated from the window before Margaret ran up the steps, and the great door of the house clanged after her. A sound a strange and unusual sound greeted Mrs. Carruth's charmed ear. " What ! " she thought eagerly. " Can it be possible that Margaret is humming? " " Where are you, mother ? " called the girl. " Here, dear, in the music-room." The girl entered, her face beaming, and, with unwonted demoiistrativeness, she threw her arms about Mrs. Carruth and kissed her. " I have had such a pleasant call at Althea's ! " ' That is good. I saw that Mr. Vandyke came home with you. Why did n't you bring him in ? " '* I don't know. Oh yes ; he could n't. He has a business acquaintance in town whom he has to meet." " Altliea is so amusing ! " added Margaret with a little laugh, as she flitted out of the room again. " It is coming ! " thought Mrs. Carruth ; and she closed her eyes in mute thanksgiving. CHAPTKR XII TIIK CONCMKT ALTHKA ( JAYLOIM). Willard French. ;uiur~ toii Vandyke were guests in Mrs. ( 'arrut h'^ bu\ on the evening of the concert . ""llieir ho.ste.is. ;i< she had warned them, had too manv cares on her mind to settle into her place promptly. Miss (iavlord and French Found Vandyke Maniim;;' at the bad-; of the box \vhcii thev arrivi ! d. As lie greeted them he commented on the bril liancy of the already overflowing hou-^c. Why. of course." returned French. \\ hen Mrs. Carrnth undertakes a tiling of this sort, it is a foreordained success. As Althea seated herself, \ andyke leaned over her. "I low aliout your theory now. Mi>s (iavlord '/ " kk I don t know what to think ! ' I'cplicd the li'irl. ' I know the si^ht of this ^reat audience unnerves me. I low did she dare? V\ hat \\ill she do? ' She ^ave an ap])ealin' look- up into Vandyke's iace and then turned further around nntil her eyes met: French's. "Aren't you fright ened for her? she asked. "For Magnet? No," he replied complacently. THE CONCERT 175 ' k I never knew her to flunk in anything'. If she should get a little stage fright I should think she had brought it on herself by her unaccountable hanging back this winter. How can she expect to be comfortable before the public if she won't sing in the bosom of her family?" " But this is a very large undertaking," declared Vandyke. " How should Miss Carruth be ex pected to supplement an artist like Ramsay here in her own city?" He envied French his placid ity. His own excitement rose from time to time in waves of painful feeling. " Do you really an ticipate a success for her ? " "Of course 1 ," returned French calmly. "Mag net has one of the voices that go right in where people live, somehow. I 've scarcely heard her since she came back : but if she sings as well as she did before she studied across the water, you '11 see she will please the audience. She does n't put on any frills and trills and things, but she gets there every time. I felt downright angry with her that afternoon up in Miss Gaylord's room. She will have to give some pretty good music to soothe this savage breast." Here both men rose, for Mrs. Carruth, in a superb toilet, came up from the stage door and appeared at the back of the box. The occupants of the boxes 011 either side of her kept her busy for a minute returning their greet- in o'S. 17C g - Yes. that is Mrs. Carruth. the head of I 1 ;- whole al'iair. said one ladv to a stranger ^'uest. "She is a power. I tell vou. when she uiidci 'lak-'s to make anything a fashionable success. It is her daughter who is u'oia^- to sin^ 1 . I hear tliat the u.irl studied with \ iviani. but she li:i-- been ia IJoston nearly all winiei 1 . a:id. so far as I can learn, no one ha. heard her sin^ 1 a note. I can t learn that she has l>een heard at the smallest soiree: not even in her mother s house. It is the. strangest tiling I ever I-;new of. I should think Kverett Ivamsay s sensations would have been odd when lie found his companion artist was to lc an amateur. Think of the price of seats too : lnu if is Mrs. ('arrnth. so no one will complain. I m :. v lad they have the word.- printed on the programme. \\ hat is the iirst sone; Miss Carruth is ^'oiii^ 1 to sin^? If it isn't () rest in the Lord!' What an odd selection: and did you ever hear of such daring! Think of her, merely a society Li'srl, put ting herself in comparison with the LTreat singers of the world ! And \vhat is that other? Isral'el ! ' .1 never heard of it. It seems to me it would have l>een more sensible to choose something' people were familiar with." etc.. etc. While this harangue was Imoldinv; forth. \ an- dvke had seated hiniM-li' heinnd Mrs. ('arriith. Mrs. Darling from her box opposite watched his iine head, thrown into relief by the ermine wrap towai'd which he leaned. She wanted that face THE CONCERT 177 In proximity to her own tiara. She had been angry when she found her early invitation not early enough, and a little worm of envy gnawed in her now. " lie will come pretty soon," she comforted her self. Vandyke noticed that his hostess was pale. That would be natural under such stress of labor as had been hers of late ; yet the strained look might not proceed from that cause. "Have you seen your daughter recently?" he asked, striving not to let his anxiety appear. The smiles of greeting died from Mrs. Car- ruth's face, and she turned upon him gravely with a look of such foreboding that his heart hurried its beat. " I have just left her. Mr. Vandyke, I have made a great, great mistake ! " " How could you do it ! " he exclaimed with poignant reproach ; then : " It is too late to ask it now. Xo," with another impetuous change, " it is not too late ! Have her excused ! Refund the money ! Anything ! " Mrs. Carruth regarded him in surprise. " You thought I meant that Margaret was frightened ? No, she is not afraid." " You are, then ! " ejaculated Vandyke in the same low tone, veiled by the applause that greeted the entrance of the orchestra and its celebrated leader. "It is the same thing. Stop it! Don't 1 7S ,\ i, a EAT LOVE let it go on ! It is too much to ask to ex pect." The lady regarded linn wonderinglv, but it was a smile of subdued gratification into which her look changed. " There is no fear of her failure. It is not that."' She longed to continue, to pour into the pale, speaking face her confidences, her fears. In that moment she loved this man \vh<> was to be her deliverer. But her position constrained her. She must pay attention to the opening number. As soon as it closed, she 1 turned again to \ andyke. \vho was waiting attentively, even while mechanically joining in the applause. 'I meant at lirst to make this a comparatively small affair, and I urged .Margaret to help me. It has grown into these proportions almost with out mv realization. Only now when 1 went into her dressing-room ami saw her-- I realized! I had put before her the very thing I dreaded. i wonder if yon know her wishes "Yes, I know." The eloquent brown eves gave back gloom for gloom. " And you agree with me?" The question was an appeal. " I do. I do agree with you." he said acutely. " Would that yon had not drawn her into this thing ! " The impassioned manner and stifled tone drove the red to Mrs. Tarruth's pale cheeks. She regarded him gravely, significantly, for a THE CONCERT 179 silent instant. " AYith yon to help me, it shall be the last time," she said slowly. lie nodded, too tense with apprehension and excitement for this present occasion to have regard to a future. A famous violinist was bowing to the greeting of the house. The orchestra accompanied his florid performance, and when it was over Vandyke waited in torture for the hand-clapping to cease. It seemed to him amid that sea of faces that he was alone. Margaret Carruth was to come next 011 the programme with the great, simple aria so unsuited to the powers of the average singer ; and even her mother's face showed that she was mo menta rilv absorbed in the work of the artist who had just ceased. He felt the perspiration at the roots of his hair. Such sensations he had known once before when as a boy in the dentist's office he had awaited the appearance of the forceps. Would these fools insist upon an encore and prolong his agony? Yes, yes ! Encore the man. It would give ten minutes' grace. In the mean time the building might take fire, or Margaret might faint. lie joined frantically in the effort of the violin enthusiasts, and who knows but that it was this infusion of vigor into the applause that won the boon? At all events, the violinist played again. Prob ably it was very wonderful. He did his work ISO quite alone Ihis time, and tlic memLers of the orchestra tapped on their stands with their !>o\\^ when In- finished, and looked interested. \andvke sank i>a:-k in In- ( hair ai:d him ,' his thumbs in his pockets, ior his cold hands exasper ated him by their unsteadiness. His tongue t'el: dry when the house ^rew still. Mrs. ('arrnth turned and i^ave him a look of resignation, to which he made no re-police. A breaking 1 ont ot applause aua;n galvanized eagerly, and smiling. \andvke raised hiniself slowly and looked at the Ma^'o. Margaret \\as already standing before the foot li^hl -. bo \\iiiL;- her acknowledgment of a ^'eiierons :_nve! in^ 1 . After the one inclination oi the head sho --tood nnmo!ile in her white j^'own. such nncoii>cions dignity and ease in her oearinu'. that a^'ain the lilood rushed to Vandykes forehead and heat in Ins ears as the orchestra bewail 1o play. Memories flitted through his mind: of th.e girl's lii'st con- iidences to him under the idol s Mind snide, of her repeated and pained refusals to u'rant her friends requests, ot her assurance and her endurance. Now the time had come. She stood read\ to ti'ive the message with which her full heart pulsed, and one, knowing her as he did. read it in the uplifted look on her calm lrow. the Mihtle smile on her 14'rave lips. As he watched, his tear passed. He did not reason, but lie felt the adequacy ex- THE CONCERT 181 pressed in the fine presence, the serene attitude ; he waited, spell-bound, lie knew not for what. lie felt a sob disturb the ermine beside him. Mrs. Carriith turned from Margaret's face and met his eyes with a strange gaze. " And rejoiceth as a strong' man to run a race," she murmured. Then the singer's lips parted, and she sang : " O rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him, And llo shall give theo thy heart's desire.' 7 The roundness, the clearness, the tenderness and conviction, the strength of that promise ! How it reached and clave to the soul of every listener in that hushed assemblage ! Curiosity, tolerance, leniency, were all forgot ten. Was the voice large or small, .who knew? It touched the vulnerable spot in every heart and. called each one higher. " Commit thy way unto Him, and trust in Him." Women's hands sought each other, husbands' eyes sought wives', and wives' husbands'. Molly Dar ling forgot the dark head leaning over the ermined chair opposite, and her breath came softly between parted lips, as she listened. Was it Margaret Carriith who was doing this ? A girl many of them knew and often greeted? That voice, disembodied of obstacle or difficulty, which floated with a heavenly message to heights and depths, did it proceed from an angel who had been entertained among; them unawares? \\ hen the Milder ceased the hush was not broken for seconds. At !a-4 sonic one threw oil' the spell. Applause bewail, rippled, broke, thundered. Mrs. Carruth and Vandyke held themselves q;:iet an 1 motionless, while French, clearing hi~ throat, and Alihea. iieedless of tears that ran down her cheeks, added to the acclaim. I'rench u'a/ed across at Mrs. ( arruth and \ an- dyke, full of excitement, ('aichin^' the iadv's eye, he leaned across. \\lio would have believed it. Mrs. Carruth, eh 7 he ejaculated, continuing 1o clap. The magnet works, eh? '1 hen. una.hle to contain his exuberance and irritated !>v Vandvke's pa^>iv- it\': 'i hat is n t mere siuii'in^. \and\ke. eh 7 \\ake up. man! \\ hat s the mailer with VMI. c-h 7 " '1 he woman in the next !H>\ \\ho had commented disappro\-inu'ly earlv in the evening was 'oiling hei- lip a.nd ruining her gloves. Mrs. Darling 1 was saving very u'entK to her hnshand : ('an \'ou sec' well where; you are. dear? \\ ould n t it lie better if vou moved vour chair tins wa\' fiirthei' 7 \\ illard French was still deliriously murmur- in:^ : Have her out. have her out ! and applaud ing madlv. although already Margaret had three times come forward and bowed her acknowledg ments. ' Be quiet, French.'' said Vandyke pensively. THE CONCERT 183 pulling- Willard down into his chair. " She won't sing- an encore to that.'' " How are you so well informed?" u 1 don't know,'' answered Vandyke. He felt too relaxed to argue. But he was right. ' It must have been some magnetic condition O of the house,'' said tin; woman in the next box to her friend when she could be heard. She was interested in psychological research. " I suppose such a concourse of friends, all moved by good feeling, must have created an atmosphere, an ether, in which the girl sang above herself, as it were. It seemed to me part of t;he time that I didn't breathe. It was very peculiar. I don't suppose it would be possible for her to do it again. If she were clever, she 'd fall ill right now and go home." " Are n't you going behind to congratulate her, Mrs. Carruth ? " asked French. The lady merely shook her head, and AVillard was obliged to contain himself, although it seemed to him that some one with the right to hug Mar garet should seek her without delay and perform that office. The English baritone took his turn, the other numbers came along in order, until Margaret appeared for the second time. Then the spontane ous greeting broke out with eager enthusiasm. Vandyke leaned forward in his chair and fas tened his eyes upon the girl. She was apparently looking at some lofty point directly before her, 184 Imt slowly her head turned and she glanced, her expression unchanged, at her mother's box. and met his look. For a second, her eyelids fell : then, as before, \viih the effect of expressing with, ardent; sincerity her own feehnu'. J'oe's pathetic poem began to roll with sustained fervor from her lips. " In Heaven a spirit doth dwell V. host- heart -strings are ;i Into ; IS one sni'4 1 so \\ildlv well As the aiiLVel Israfel. And the o-iddy stars, so legends tell. Ceasing ilicir hymns, attend the spell Of his voice, all mute. "And they say. the starry ehoir And the oilier liMeuine, things. That Israfeli's fin is owiiiir to t hat lyre With the trenililinu livini;- wire iiv whicli he sils and sin^s." Her voice rang out at the climax with an appeal. The sobs that rose insistently in Mrs. Carrnth's breast threatened to overwhelm her. It seemed as if all that she had known the girl to be sup pressing, now broke forth in passionate, pathetic wistfulness. " If T could d^ell Where Israu-1 hath dwelt. And he when- I. He nii^lit not siiiL; 1 so wildly \vell A mortal melody. While a holder note than this mig'ht swell From out my lyre within tin; sky ! Whatever the power that attached to the young THE CONCERT 185 singer, the thrill of her voice ran like an electric chain about her audience. The applause was ex citing 1 in volume and eagerness. Mrs. Carruth bit her lip painfully. The woman in the next box tried to conceal that she was cry ing until she found that the majority of her friends were too occupied to heed her. This time Margaret was not to be excused ; nor did she wish to be. After two recalls she appeared with her accompanist ; no longer with the exalted expression in her face. Only a happy girl, pleased under splendid approbation, stood before the foot lights smiling toward her mother's box while the prelude to her song was touched. She gave that daintiest of love-songs, " At Part ing," with sweet sincerity ; warming to intensity and dying at last in pensive yearning sadness, with every phrase swaying her hearers as she would : " The sweetest flower that grows I give you as we part, You think 't is but a rose ; Ah me ! It is my heart ! " " Long live Magnet ! Long live Magnet ! " cried French into the volley of applause that went from audience to stage like a direct message of loving thanks and praise. "Passable, wasn't it, eh?" he said to Vandyke when finally they rose to leave. The latter's eyes were glowing. I should like yon to go with me to get Mar garet." said Mrs. ( 1 arruth. "If we hurrv a little. we can esc;i])e people. ^ on will excuse n>. A-i-s -i s -\' ill; u I doii i know. \\ e \vant to come too. said French. Not to-night, dear bo\ . It has been so excit ing. Mrs. Carruth s cloak was not whiter than her cheeks. 'i i;ai woman is i_>;oinLT to feel the reaction from this," said Willard to Altliea. - By Jove, she's a worker ! Mow now. Miss (Javlord? \andyke asked it softly a- he followed Mr>. Carruth, Oh. there 's nothing left of inc. and I only brought one handkerchief. resjtonded Altliea recklessly. ' Think oi our expect mg her to "ing Israi'el ' iii that seven b\- nine box of mine!" Airs, Carruth and \aiidvke hastened toward the stage door by a corridor at the bad-; oi the boxes, the lady evading sundry attempts to detain and congratulate her. They found Margaret surrounded by a bevy of musicians, calm, but with a light in her eves and a look in her face that one might wear who. alter long yearning, breathes her native air at last. "She belongs to us. Mrs. Carruth," said Kver- ett Ramsay. London has a place for your daughter." - You don't know what a large place >he fills THE CONCERT 187 here," replied the mother, and Margaret noted her pallor even while she gave her hand to Vandyke, disengaging 1 herself from the group to do so. lie pressed it in silence. " You see ? " she said, interrogating him with her glance. kv It is a turning-point in your life," he an swered. " A memorable night. I shall never forget it." Her heart swelled. The homage of his eyes intoxicated her. It was a climax to all that had gone before. Impulsively she separated a rose bud from the flowers she carried and gave it to him. v> Your sympathy means much to me," she said. lie took the flower mechanically, his eyes riveted on her radiant ones. In that moment he saw her gain and his loss. lie knew for the first time that for him her hand held the gift of the whole world and heaven beyond, while of all the treasure naught could come to him but this one warm rose bud, dropped from unattainable, cloudy heights. The English singer observed the scene. " Perhaps the chief obstacle to our getting Miss Carruth stands there," he remarked pleasantly to Margaret's mother. " ' You think 't is but a O rose ' the song says." " I am quite sure it is only a rose, Mr. Ram say," returned Mrs. Carruth. " Good-night." She took Margaret away as quickly as she could. 1S8 1 hev scarcely spoke while tlic carriage s\\ iftlv rolled homeward : lint arrived at the lionse. >hc led the girl into her own room and drew her down npoii a divan, where thev held each other in a lon^ - silent emltrace. Now vou are going right to bed. little mother." said Margaret at last. \ on are verv tired. I hope St. Timothy's has 11 t cost von too dear." I hope not. Margaret. I hope not. ' As she said it, Mrs. Carrnth regarded the girl lixedlv. ' Do von think 1 could slee]> until we have talked it out ? " ' To-mornnv will do." said Margaret lightlv. c ' I "in sleepy." .Margaret ('arrnth. look at me. Tell me the truth. Are vou really sleepy? Shall \oit >leep to-ni^ht ?" k> Most eertaiidy." The t^'ii'l smiled. \Yliv not?'' " After all the excitement, the flattery that ovation are you sleepv ? ineredulonslv. Margaret looked at hei' sti'iui^'dv. Mother, if a famished man is fed. can lie sleep'/ It one who has pined in foreign lands reaches home at last, can lie sleep? If the mother who has lost her eliild clasps him again in her arms, can she sleep ? " u Margaret child -- what are you going to do ? " There was a despairing ring in the voice. " Nothing, to-niu'ht." THE CONCERT 189 u To-morrow, what ? " u We will talk tilings over, perhaps." Mrs. Carruth shook her head at the vague lightness. k * Xow now is the time," she said firmly. The girl waited a minute and a new seriousness grew in her face. " It is true then," she said at last, " to-night has convinced you of my vocation." " Xo, no," impetuously. u It has convinced me that you have a power, but you can wield it with out without" her voice died away. " Mother, listen. To-night, soon after my first song, a woman came to me, a woman we both know. She was profoundly agitated. She said that song had changed her whole life. To-morrow she had intended to leave her homo and children, to give all up for a love that had come to her too late. She is a miserable woman, but she decided during that song not to go, not to seek happiness in this world. She wanted me to know, so she made them let her in, found me alone, and told me. Since you urge me to speak to-night, I ap peal to you not to oppose me any longer ! " The girl's voice thrilled her listener ; but Mrs. Carruth nerved herself, and her reply was ready. " Yes, you have a great power. You can and will use it for good wherever you are ; but, Mar garet, is there no one in the world but me whom you have to consider? " The girl looked surprised, reflective, and a slow l>hish rose to her hire. " No one. she ->aid at last. Tlien there inav he. Mr. Vandyke told me to-ni^'lit that he agreed with me: that he did not approve ol \our taking up a professional life. Margaret looked up. ' Are vou sure. -die asked. (piite sure yon did not misunderstand him? ^ es. Mrs. ( 'arruth paused, and in the hush decided thai she must tel! all the truth. - It was before vou .^an^. she added reltietuntlv. Ah! t he n'irl v,'a\ e a nod, But. my child, wait. The chances for domestic; happiness are so small tor a woman situated as vou would lie. lie does n t reali/' 1 it, perhaps. Then you must remember it, for hi> >ake." Margaret s lips parted, and she seemed en tranced for an instant: then she threw oil the silent spell. That has not to be considered, she said breathlesslv. "Let us ronline theipies- tion to ourselves. Tell me. do vou -till thud';. with such indications as I have had to-ni^'ht. that niv duty is to obev vou blindly?" () Margaret, don t speak so. dear! The i'irl had risen in her agitation, and Mrs. ('arruth's rich \\rap fell and trailed on the floor as she turned to follow her with troubled eyes. "Hasn't it been more Jove than dutv that has coerced vou, Margaret? Let us compromise," she added, as the i^irl did not at once answer. THE CONCERT 191 u Spring 1 is here. Let us see what the summer will bring' forth. Supposing, my child, that your happiness and mine is coming to us after all, traveling' along the same path? " She rose and gave the girl a brilliant, signifi cant smile that the latter could not face. To escape it Margaret glided to her side and buried her face in her mother's neck. Mrs. Carruth's eyes grew triumphant as sho stood patting the white shoulder and looking- through the dissolving walls of the chamber into a bright futurity. CHAPTER XIII A LONG "business trip claimed Burton Vandyke immediately after the concert for St. Timothy's, so lie did not hear the buz/ of the nine davs' wonder over Margarets success, although he could picture it. tk The child takes it with wonderful self-poise." "Mi's. Carruth wrote to Miss Beebe. "She is (juite gentle and composed when people swoop upon her with flattery. It appears to be as un exciting to her as if they said. -Why. Margaret Carruth, your eyes are gray!" She seems to be answering them : \ es, did n t vou know before that they were, gray ? ' b - Mr. Vandyke is not offering incense with the rest because he has been called away from town. lie is likely to be gone some time: but I believe the prospect is good for the outcome of which I spoke to vou. that is. so far as he is concerned. His excitement on the evening of the concert could mean only one thing, and he wa> the trump card which I plaved in the inevitably painful in terview dear Margaret and I had afterward. Of course. I could deal only in hints, but they seemed VACATION 193 to have an effect. Mr. Vandyke and Margaret are Loth the sort of young people who would ap- proaeh such a step with earo and thought. What a turning-point the coming summer will be in our lives ! What hopes I am hanging upon it ! We shall go to the cottage as early as possible this season. Margaret is anxious about me ; and in deed the winter has been more of a strain than she knows. It is a dolefully white face I see when I look in the glass ; but our hero, our Sir Launcelot, will espouse my cause and deliver me ! I don't dread to tell him that which you know of. 1 le is so broad in his views, so strong and gentle, he will guard Margaret as I should. Oh, Luella, what happy days may be coming to me ! My spirit sings when I think of the relief and peace that is perhaps in store. k - We shall count on a visit from you, any part of the season which suits yon. There is always plenty of room at Cliff Nest." The CaiTuths went in June to the eyrie among the rocks where the sea beat far below on a pebbly beach. Groves of fragrant firs embowered the cottage at the back, rooting in a boulder-strewn soil and sending forth their wholesome breath on every breeze. The people who are always ready to invest the money of rich folk for them disapproved somewhat of Cliff Nest. It was too remote from pleasant society for Margaret, they said. Of course Mrs. MM Carruth, iif'tcr her laborious winter, enjoyed tin- reaction of absolute quiet : hut tor her daughters sake she ou^'lit to have limit a place ne;nvr (> th'- fashionable resort ten miles away. Mrs. I)arlin_; agreed with these philanthropic -onU. She liked to keep one hand on the ( arruths even \\hil.- she cMU'a^ed in ilie pursuit of congenial pleasures. Their relationship, tht-ir countenance, meant a iire o! invitations tor loii^ 1 stay-, at Cliff Nest, and the rest of the time -he could hoard at the jfreat hotel in the heart ot tin rex rt above men t ioned. Mrs. ('arruths treatment ot her ua> ahvavs courteous without familiarity, and the preti\ woman resented a politeness which ne\'er warmed to forget fulness of the conventions: hut M r^. Car- ruth was o'cnerosity and hospitality incarnate. Mrs. Darling knew that hor>e> and carriages, boats and bath-liouses would be at her disposal as lonu 1 as she mi^ht be Cliff Nest's ^uest. However, tins season she was uiad ot her eot- tau'e. i;'lad. too. of the niih-s th;;t di\ided il from the Carruths. She laid elaboi'ate plans to meet Burton Vandyke on his return from the \\est bei'ore he had been to Beacon Street : and when VACATION 195 she finally saw him seated in her little drawing- room, and made certain that this was the first call he had made since his return, she smiled with the triumphant certainty that her point was gained. " Yonr trip has been a hard one, Mr. Vandyke," she said with a wise nod. " I "m sorry I show it," he replied ; " but it has been a fight from beginning to end.'' I dare say when my note was handed yon, you sighed to yourself that you wished no one would hurry you into any social duties, even into such a tiny and informal one as a call on me." bt Xo, indeed. It seems a long time since I have seen my Boston friends." Vandyke looked up. ' I left town at a very exciting moment to Miss Carruth." " So you did ; and it shows how long you have been gone, that to-day there; is almost a feeling of summer in the air." The visitor was not to be lured away from his subject. HONV is Miss Carruth? Did she suffer from the reaction from all that excitement ? " She is quite well. 1 hear she is going into singing as a profession. I hear that Everett Ram say encourages her to come to London. She told me once a good while ago that she thought the life of a singer very enviable. I charged her with this a few days ago and she evaded me. She evidently isn't ready to talk, but I prophesy that is just what she will do. Her success certainly gives her every rea>on. So - Mrs. Darling' made ;in ;iii'\' gvstnre vanish Mi-s Carrnth from Boston society. Her companion s eves \vere looking far a\vav. At all events, ju^t iio\v slie is not x> nnicli in need ol attention as \'on are. >he added. \ \\ do look almost hazard. As \oiir care-takei- 1 must insist mi knowing what \'(m are [ilanniiiu tor a vacation. I'm afraid I mustn't think" much ahout that. Mrs. Darling" Indeed von must ! " in indignant protest. ()!' course vou are ^oinu 1 to have a vacation." Perhaps very likelv. two weeks." A l)e<^arlv t \v week> ' * A princely two weeks I shall call it. if I ji-et it." \ erv well. \ve will a.-^ume that \on will ^et it. The principal tiling tor which I sent tor \on is to ask vou to spend those weeks with us. - \\ hv. Mrs. Darling. 1 tlianlc \ou ()h. liut there can t lie aiiv huts. lu'ineni- bcr. 1 am one oi vour oldest friends in Boston. And kindest. added Vandyke. I have friends, though, who ante-date Boston, v, ho \\onld (xpect me to come to them it circumstances iavor. " But they may not '/ That is ^ood.' returned Mrs. Darlin- -a\ ly. Well, all I ilsk is that Mich time as vou spend with Boston Friends von u'ive to us." She assumed a serious air. This mav \'ACATWN 197 seem insistent to you, Mr. Vandyke, but it is in behalf of my husband that I urge it. Henry's vacation will do him so much more good if he has you with him. 1 'm sure the hammocks and breezes and sails at Spindrift will rest you won derfully. You must come and try them. Henry ridicules me, and says there is no siich word as Spindrift ; but who in her senses would call a cottage by such an uglv name as Spoondrift? ]Sot I, at any rate. The house is too pretty to be treated so. Come and see if it is n't.' 1 " I surely will, Mrs. Darling, if it is a possible thing," returned Vandyke. " Mr. Darling and I will have to find out if we can agree upon dates." ' And the trouble is he meant it," laughed his hostess to herself after he had gone. However much Vandyke's literalness might appeal to her sense of humor as well as pique her vanity, she was elated at her success. Cliff Xest could not receive him now. lie had given his word. Margaret had in the winter often shown Althea Gaylord pictures of their seashore home, and ex pressed the hope that she would not return AVest without visiting them there. A hint was enough for Althea, who wrote at once to her parents for permission to extend her stay in order to view the beauties of the Atlantic coast, although she avowed honestly that she would be willing to be enveloped in a fog all summer if within the wet blanket she could be side by side with Margaret Carruth. Mi 1 , ami Mrs. (Javlovd pivc their consent-. so that tli;- plea-urc of anticipation cheered Altlica all through ihc (lavs of late spring, when her face looked pale and small as -he kept iirndv at her work under a sun-lieaten roof. "ion are as hiy-cyed as a rooin. \\ illard French said to her. It. is time von sent vour ]>iano a\\ av. Never sav die. returned Miss (Javloi'd. "Actions .-peak louder than \\ords. reniai'kcd French. tv Better say it than do it. it seems tonic. I)oii t \on ordei- your mourning vet. !)< von think" I d shuffle oil before I ve lieen to ( iilf Nest '/ Think of ^'oinn 1 to lied and u'''Uii)^ up and eat iuu' three meals a dav in the same house \\ith Mi-, Ma-net ! " That's the thin-." said French ap])rovin-ly. Such meals as von \\ill eat at C'lfff Ne>t. too! I 've tried them. 'Are von -oin- down this sninmer 7 asked the -irl. The (jue>tioii had risen to her lips on manv previous occasions, hut for some reason it had no! been eas\ to put. I shall spend mv vacation at Crest \ ie\\. yes. - \\ hose house is I hat '! " It is n't a house : it is a village, the resort neaiv-t to ('lift' Nest. Mrs. Darlinu", cottage is only a litt le way out from it." Is that \\liy you choose it'/' asked Allhea impulsively. VACATION 199 " One reason, yes." The girl pursed her lips reflectively. " I saw Mrs. Darling yesterday. She told me that Mr. Vandyke has come back, and that he is going to spend his vacation with her," she said slowly. " lie '11 have a picnic," 1 commented French placidly. " Spindrift is a gay place." " She always gets her way, that woman," re marked Althea; u that is, nearly always. If she does n't zip ! Look out for hysterics and a gen eral letting go of everything. I pity the person who incurs her wrath then ! As a rule, though, she gets her way." " Of course. Pretty women ought to," returned French provokingly. " Thank you." Miss Gaylord swept him a curtsy. " I 'in glad you admire big-eyed robins. I have my way exactly. If you men prefer to swing on Mrs. Darling's gate to coming to Cliff Nest, I shall have Miss Magnet all the more to myself. 1 wish you a very happy summer, Mr. French. I know just your style : hopping at a fashionable hotel, and playing Bunthorne to twenty love-sick maidens with fifty summer toilets apiece. Go on. Do it, by all means." "Thank you, Miss Gaylord," returned French feelingly. " I could n't have gone into it with any zest, wanting your permission. As it is, my heart will be as light as my heels." "And vonr head, added Althea <|uicklv. as .-In- lei t the room. \\ illard -iniled pensivelv at the door, which wa> (|in verm", 1 \\iih the energy expended bv Mi-s ( ia\ lord upon closing it . It -eein-. he mused, "that the mention of Mrs. Darling uct- on to my ward's nerves." Meanwhile \andvke called at the Carrnths'. Margaret was out : but Mr.-, ('arruth greeted him with hearty cordiality and commented, as M r>. Darling 1 had done, on the evidences of fatigue that he bore. l>\ a natural transition >he loo came at the -ub- ject of In.- vacation, and he replied, a he 'had to in- other hostess, that it was problematical. luil that wont do. said Mrs. ('arruth kindly. Brainworkers must .-top and rene\\ themselves." I hope tor a chance, he answered. ^ on certainly need a change yourself. Mrs. ('arruth." She smiled. " It is n't the pot calling the ket tle black exactly, is it 7 We're both too white for that. Yes. I need it. and Cliff \e>t will vjve it me. I wi.-h we mivjit see yon at our summer home. Mr. \and\ke. A fortnight there would make von teel re-created. lie looked at her. a certain ^low oi response in his eyes that she had come to know well. I can think ot nothing in the world that would Li'ive me so much pleasure." he answered \\ith a sin cerity that elated her. VACATION 201 " Then you will conic ? " " I don't know that I shall have any vacation," he answered, his face impassive again, "but if I do I shall have to I shall spend part of it with my people. For the rest, I have already pro mised Mrs. Darling." t% AY lien did yon promise Mrs. Darling? You only arrived yesterday." Mrs. Carruth spoke quickly, off her guard for once 1 . YVas this man not as good as a son, better than a son, to her? " She sent for me to come to see her," he re plied, " and the conversation turning on the sum mer, she happened to ask me." "Happened to ask him!'' thought Mrs. Car ruth hotly. " She has probably been having the railway stations watched ! " But her manner as she answered him was as calm as ever. " Spindrift is a pleasant house, and not so far from us. Y\ e shall hope to see something of you." * Mrs. Darling told me great news of of your daughter. I don't know that you care to speak of it, but is she to you have yielded to her wish ? " He asked it modestly and with hesita tion, ready to abandon the subject at a hint. Mrs. Carruth smiled at him. " That matter is suspended for the summer, Mr. Vandyke. I am glad you spoke of it, for if I can secure you for an ally in the matter I shall be very glad. I want you to understand my position." She did indeed: ;iud her executive ;il>dil\ \v;is so :_' rea i . her power to briiit^ 1 aliont each tiling tli.it she i-oiisidered desirable h;id lieen so Ion"; niKjties- tioir.'d. sli.' h;i'! i:o\v to sti'Ul^'le with the tempta- t ion !ii!-- i ete-a-1 etc \\ as to her. She longed to s;|\ : " 1 appl'o\e of VO1I. \Oill' financial circumstances, whatever ihe\ mav lie. are a mailer oi indii't'ereliee lo me. i Relieve \he wishes. ! iiiu>t eitlier live on her. 1 alone, or I niii^t l;real< np this home and relinquish the wovl< \vl ich I do ii re. and u'o a'oout \\ilh her. If I lieiieved tiiat \\on!d In'in^ her the Li'reate--) happiness, it would lie mv dulv to aii'ree to one ol tho>e pri )|)o-<;; i, in^ : inn I dn init. The onl\ real, solid, safe ha])piness in this world for a woman is to l>e a \\ife and mother. ( )t course it fads at times. Init more otten n succeeds. That is the life I conld v,i\e Margaret np to. I ell me. Mr. Vandyke, do von au'ree with me? II(> was silent, his v,a/e fixed on the tloor. \\onld he speak to her now? Would he a-.k her? \\ as he tr\ni ( 4' to summon courage? All. ho\v conld she ^ive it to him and vet make no mis take! I was surprised, she went on, after an in stant s pause. " to lind that .Margaret had talked to VACATION 203 you on this subject. It was a great mark of con fidence. She is one of the most reserved girls imaginable. It is this that makes me know that you can influence her ; that makes me wish for your assurance that at least you understand my position and believe me sincere." " I do believe that," said Vandyke, rising. lie was an imposing man standing thus, his pale face, dignified to coldness, regarding his hostess with out a smile. Something in his look disconcerted her. It did not accord with a humility which needed encouragement. *" I trust the summer may solve your problem, Mrs. Carruth," he added, '" and I hope it will be very enjoyable and bene ficial to you both. Please present my regrets to your daughter that I have missed her. If I suc ceed in getting to the seashore, I shall remember your permission to call." In another minute he was gone, and his hostess, dismayed, was questioning space with wondering eyes. Offense followed her first surprise at his abruptness. " Yet how haggard he looked as he stood there ! Perhaps he felt suddenly ill. It must have been so." She recalled each word of their brief conversa tion uneasily, as if laying it before Margaret's maiden vision. She longed to have him come again and find the girl at home, for of course he would come in the fortnight that must intervene before their flitting. His parting words had sounded ahsurdly like a farewell : luit they could not have meant that. Had she asked him to c:mie a^'ain ? She midd not recall. >he ha.l been too excited, too embar- ra-sed to know. Had anything offended him? \\ liat c:mid have caused his strange, unsvnipa- t het ic behavior ? \\hen Mrs. Carruth. carefully concealing any agitation, announced to Margaret that \ and\'ke had calli'd, the Lj'irl expressed only conventional regret at missing him : luit she looked for him every evening for a week thereafter in vain. At the end of that tune a telegram arrived announcing the death of old Mr. Beebe. and the Carruths \vent to Sprinplale to the funeral, taking Althea with them. I ]on tl'.eir return Mrs. Carruth eag'erlv ex amined the cards that had been left, to discover if \ andvke's was amon^' them. It. was not. At last the evening before their departure ar rived. Mrs. ('arm! h had been lonuin^. yet fear- in ^ to speak of \ andvke to her daughter, and now she could hold her peace no longer. I be^'iii to fear that Mi'. Vandyke i^ ill." she said. ' He looked so badly the evening he called." l - Had news travels fast." replied Margaret. " Willard would know. I think. \\ hen he was here last ni^ht he mentioned Mr. \ andvke casu- ally." V AC 'ATI ON 205 Mrs. Carruth regarded the speaker with a mix ture of relief and disappointment. Margaret seemed entirely undisturbed. u Well what do you think of his behavior then ? '' she asked. " We have no reason to think anything of it," was the reply. " I have hoped " she added after a minute, " I have wondered if you said any thing the evening he was here that that " " That what, Margaret ? " The girl eame close to her mother and put her arms around her tenderly. "That you regret now," she said slowly. " You know, little mother, your rule, ' Where there 's a will there 's a way,' might tempt you now." " Xo indeed, indeed, Margaret." Mrs. Car ruth colored painfully. " I was tempted. Of course I was, but I remembered you ! " u That is good, mother," said the girl quietly. CIIAITKK XIV ( UI-T NKsT THIN and pale Mi>s (iavlord might he. hut there was no Li'irl in [Boston fuller of anticipation than she when on the following morning she drove \\ith the Carrnths to the railwav station. I pon their arrival \\ illard French appeared to open the carriage-door, and Althea was pale no longer in her Mirpnse at the apparition. She had hade him good-hv already, and not the least ot her anticipa tions of Cliff Nest was that >he \\ould learn there not to listen for his step, nor when she walked ahroad to Avatch for the particular st\le of hat \vhich Mr. French affected. Now here lie was again and the parting must he repeated. This day is going to he a scorcher, he re marked. " Yon go at precisely the right mo ment." He took possession of their hags and escorted the three ladies to their train and saw them estah- lishcd in their chairs. Take me with you. Mrs. Carrnth." he sug gested, as he stood in the aisle, tanninn' himself CLIFF XE*T 207 with his hat. " Somehow I don't yearn to go back to the office." ' I 'in sure you 're never any trouble, my dear boy," remarked Mrs. Carruth. " You are very welcome to come. Remember, we speak for at least a part of your vacation." u lie sure I shan't forget any such pleasure. I have some magazines and things here." lie handed some periodicals and a box of candy to Margaret, and then from inside his coat brought forth a little package loosely wrapped in tissue paper. " These are for my ward," he said gravely. "I 'in afraid 1 've jammed them now." They were violets like those that had once made peace between French and herself, and Althea looked her pleasure as she took them. " I think you will find that Miss (niylord does me credit, Mrs. Carruth," he went on. " If you tire of her, just return her to Newbury Street. There is going to be an aching void where the piano has stood all winter." " That is it," thought Althea, burying her nose in the violets. " I have never been anything' more to him than a good joke." ' Never mind these empty flatteries, Mr. French," she remarked in her airiest drawl. " Your heavy responsibility is shifted, and now there is nothing to worry you but my teacups. Don't you let anything happen to them, and don't you let anybody drink out of them, unless it is Air. \ andvke. IJenieinber. now ! -Oh. I saw Vandyke last night." said \Villard. turning 1 to Margaret. lie did n't know till th-n that von were going so soon. It "s about a min ute now. so good-by, all of yon. ' French shook liands with Mrs. ('arrnth. with Margaret, then with Althea. ( Jood-by. little l)nsv liee. he said smiling. ( iood-hy. hi"; Imtteril v." He pressed her hand and returned her look- so keenly that she could almost believe lie \\as .>orr\ to see her go. Don t work loo hard. she added in a differ ent tone. \\ hat advice to a butterfly ! he laughed, and Avith a parting nod passed down the ai>le and dis- a])peared. As French lett the ear by one door, a tall man in a gray summer suit entered it at the opposite end. The thin material of his clothing cluni; 1 lightly to the muscles of his splendid figure, and many eyes turned toward Imu as the tram started. His roving 1 glance almost instantly caught siglil of our grou]). and lifting his hat lie strode forward. I>ut we "ye started ! " exclaimed Margaret. rising involuntarily. lie ignored Mrs. Carruth and Althea as he laid a florist s lio\ in her hands. I ve been out ot town again, he explained, with no briii'liteiiinii' of his sombre face. CL //'/' XKST 209 u Please get off ! " she ejaculated. She had not seen him since that evening in the green-room. What had happened to change him so ! " It has been impossible for me " " Yes, yes ! Please get oft' ! " Her hand was in his. " (io, jtlcdxc ! " she repeated. ** Good-by no, an revoir ! " With another vague lifting of his hat and a look at no face but hers, lie disappeared. ' Oh, we 're going so fast ! '' exclaimed Marga ret apprehensively, turning to Althea, who looked big-eyed and sympathetic for an instant as both girls craned their necks at the window. % - I did n't see any great, elegant, gray person prostrate, did yon?" asked Althea at last, doubt fully. ' Xo," agreed Margaret, her arrested breath coming again. Then Miss Gaylord after an instant gave way to an irrepressible burst of laughter, her eyes growing moist in the effort to refrain, for she was n't at all sure that Miss Carruth would like her hilarity. Margaret looked interrogative. " I never saw such a funny interview in my life," said Althea, turning half apologetically to Mrs. Carruth, who was sitting up straight in her chair, her eyes thoughtful. " All Miss Margaret said was, ' Get off ; do get off ; please go ; ' and he giving her flowers and making eyes at her, and and everything !" She yielded to renewed merriment . \vith more courage, for her compan ions smiled loo. Margaret blushing and wi'diin^ 1 her mother would not watch her so. Perhaps Mrs. ('arruth felt tlii^. for sin- loaned hack in her chair a^'ain and swmiL!, 1 halt around toward the window away from the happv u'irU. Neither of them ever forgot that ride down to Cliff Nest. Kaeh felt that a chapter in her life had been closed with ]iist at the end tun \- pected satisfaction. The pauv headed. "To he continued. neither or them looked at. hut each read over her chapter a^am and a^am with flights of liapj)y thoughts concealed, \\hosc inlluenc,' lie- traved iNelt o,il\ til i he ^'enialitv of their inter- course, Margaret opened licr liox of American Uejiuties and asked Althca to pass () nr to her mother. Mrs. ('arruth received it. and touching ii to her lips, waved it toward the ^m-r without lifting her head from its sleepy ]>ose against the hack ot the chair: lint sir* was not s!e,'p\' : slic was never wider awake. Ne\'er had she been ^l.idder to lie ignored than a few minutes au'o lv \ andvke. ill-- O ~ eau'cr. distriui^'ht air had not been lost upon her. 'Foolish fellow! ' she thought. ''lie is won dering if he dare aspire. Never mind. lie \\ill value his happiness the more when it conies. Then she looked the rose full in its hln.hin^ face and <>'ave it a little smile of confidence. CLIFF KF.ST 211 The car-wheels sang for her all the way a song to which Margaret would turn a deaf ear. '' The sweetest flower that grows I give you as we part. To you ' t is but a rose, Ah me ! It is my heart ! " I suppose you would scorn a rose, Althea," said Margaret, looking at the girl's empurpled shirt-waist. I am satisfied," was the smiling reply. For a while they looked from the windows in silence at the New England landscape, each too well entertained with her own thoughts to need the other. Miss Gay lord's sharp eyes and ears had read between the lines of the recent interview more perhaps than was there. At all events, nothing seemed so natural to her as for any man who saw Margaret to fall in love with her, and Vandyke was as satisfactory from an aesthetic point of view as any one she could hope to find. The fact that he had failed to recognize her exist ence this morning pleased her romantic sense. The concentration of his face and its Byronic "loom were entirely in accord with the fitness of O v things. She wondered if it had anything to do with the sweet expression of Miss Carruth's grave lips now ? They seemed as if a smile lurked near the surface. tw Mr, Vandyke does n't look well," she said. Muvg'urH was too deepiv immersed in IHT da^- di'cain to hear the remark until it was repeated. She nodded. lie told mother that his \\ extern tri]i had been verv exciting 1 , she answered. Is n 1 it hard on men to have to st:>\- in the citv and \\ork all sii!miier7 pursued Mi (ia\- loi'd tritch. \\ illard is sure of a fortnight." . Well, isn't Mr. Vundyke? - Probably." N In- cuniin^ to ( TitV Not '! " -No. lie is ^'oinii' to Spindrift. Mrs. Harlin^'s cottage. \\hat a shame! e picidated Miss (iavlurd hotly. \\ hv 7 asked Margaret traii([uillv. Althea looked at her mutely. Mi>s ('arrnth had never, direetlv or indirectly, criticised her cousin's v/ife. Miss (iavlord did not dare to ex- jircss her thou^'lits. She 1 stirred re>tivrly. \\ e can t talk about Mrs. Darling. \ ou know that." she said at last. kv That is true." "Then what do von mean tempting;' me b\~ asking \\"hv'7" Althea i^ave an imitation of the other s manner which made Mar<>'ai'('1 smile. "Oh well, it's all ri^'hl," answered the latter vaguely. 'It is a pity your mother did not ask him sooner." CLIFF NEXT 213 Miss Carruth did not answer, although she un derstood perfectly Mrs. Darling's generalship. The following 1 day Miss Gaylord wrote a note home. "Oh, I lireak over you and know all the time that vou ha\'e n t energy enough to do a tiling 1 lint count the white butterflies out at sea. ( )h. it "> l he finest place ever ! I'his moriim._s presto change! \\hat a trans- formation ! \\ e woke up to a fo^ : and if then- is anything more fascinating here than the >nn- shine. it is a fo^-. I am >iuinu' by a crackling' lire of lo^'s. and outside the window the >oft ".ray clouds have fallen wav to the ^rass. There is nothing pacilic alxnit the Atlantic to-dav. I icil von. It is booming against our cliff in \\hai the\ call foii'-waves, and when the sun comes out ii will be a picnic inst to watch Neptune cavort. I hope I wrote von thai old Mr. Heche died. 1 went to the funeral \\ith the Carniths, and the\ have invited Mi-> I>eel>e up here. Arent thev the kindest people that ever happened ? She will have such a happy, restful summer here, and tins fascinating Ne-t is bit; enough tor all the stra\' or])han birds that need a haven. \ on arc perfect dears to let me have tins visit, and I 11 trv to be snch a nice Li'irl when I uei home that \ou 11 be !Ldad vou let me ^et so close for a while to the .Magnet. She saii'j;' this morning. ()li. ho\v >he sail"; ! It hardly seemed safe in such a I'OL:. fur fear the sailors would hear and the vessels all pound to pieces on our cliff. Write often to your child in PavadisP. - ALTIIKA." It was not long before tired little Miss Beebe came from the inland dust of Spring-dale to l>e rejuvenated in the life-giving sea-air. Margaret sang to her by request on the very day of her arrival, and, niueli as the guest enjoyed it, she was still more thrilled by the significance of the act. The first moment which she could secure with Mrs. Carruth alone, Miss Luella's eye seemed to be attacked with St. Vitns' dance so fast and furiously did its knowing winks crowd upon one another. "It's all right, Emeline, isn't it?" she ex claimed, using a cautious whisper although both the girls had gone with a local fisherman in his dory to visit his lobster-traps. " I hardly dare to say," replied Mrs. Carruth. " 1 'd give more for the look in your face than for any other assurance," said Miss Beebe trium phantly. They were sitting in steamer-chairs in a portion of the piazza inclosed in glass to keep off the pre vailing southeast winds. " I have felt since we came here tliat it was like waking from a bad dream into the real world," said Mrs. Carruth. " The restful cessation from planning and executing, the knowledge when I waken in the morning that no one expects any thing of me all day, is sweetness itself." " I know it," said Miss Beebe sympathetically. "You do work like a slave ! ' 21(5 Then. i:i iiildition. to have Margaret so li'jht- hearled mako. JIM- very happy. That lionot lit tle Ahhea (iaylord is -nod for her. I like the :.';;r! thoroughly : lmt it has ;il\\'a\'s Keen a surprise and a mystery to me that Margaret was sufficiently attracted to make a companion of her such a liii'lit-wci^ht as sin' is ! Ah. Kmeline ! returned Miss I>eelie -hrewdlv. that is the very fascination. Margaret wa- a clever child, and you always expected her to have an old head on yoiinu' slioulders. and held .her up to the level of your own mteivst>. as it were. 1 Ins js one d| the reactions to be expected. It >he \\cre a in. in. she d have v>wn \\ild oats all over the place h\ thi> tiiii". As il N. here 's i hi.- 1li|i|>ant- talkiny'. unconventional ti'irl. utterh unlike anv- thin^ 1 Margaret is used to. and ilie unlikeness rests her and attracts her. It s one ot the luckiest things that evci' happened to Althea. She \\ 1 don't know inueh, Luella," she said hninblv. tk Well. I don't know anybody that knows more," responded Miss Beebe warmly. "I wasn't finding any fault. I was only explaining the way I 'd thought it out. You have every reason to be proud of the result, whatever way you brought Margaret up ; and now do tell me how what oh. you know, Emeline are they engaged?" " Xo," said Mrs. Carrutli, shaking her head decidedly. " Why, he 's slower than molasses in winter ! " ejaculated Miss Beebe resentfully. " I don't think so at all," was the calm response. " lie has been out of town almost constantly since the concert, and you must remember that if his state of mind is what we hope, he should feel some modesty in the matter, and that is what I believe now he is suffering from ; for he is suffer ing : he was not himself at all on the last two occasions that I saw him." Mrs. Carrutli gave a humorous account of the brief interview in the train, to which Miss Beebe listened eagerly, her head cocked appreciatively on the side. " And what does Margaret say? " ins Mrs. ('arruth smiled. "That is an odd ques tion. Luella." I suppose vou mean YOU would n't tell." i mean that von ini^'ht kno\v Margaret would n't say anything'. I am even in doulil as to \\hat she thinks. It is a ^reat indication to jiie. however, that she sin^x and is happy. " \\ hv, of eourse it is. ! never saw Margaret as happy. MI.-.S Beebe's eyes snapped. ".Have von invited linn here '.' " Yes : hut I was too late. He had accepted M rs. I )arliii!4' s in vitat ion. Miss Beelu; set her thin lips together roent- Inlly. " Kmeliue ('arrnth. sometimes it seems as if I must speak ri^'ht out ! " I would n t. Mrs. Darling always entertains a ^'1'rat deal. She doesn't rare for quiet. Why should lie not he one of her guests? He is a prime favorite witli lier husband. " But I d like to know how things are <^oin^' to work around." said Miss Beelje aii'^rievedly. "Oh. Spindrift is lint a short distance awa\. w * But she won't let him come ! She'll contrive to prevent him. In her heart Mrs. ('arruth knew there was much force in this argument: luit she replied:--- " Then he will not want much to come. \\ here there "s a will there "s a way." Kmeliue CaiTuth," Miss Beobe I'aised hei'self CLIFF NEST 219 from the depths of the steamer-chair, " Heaven helps those who help themselves. If you let fall come without having- lost your daughter one way, you '11 lose her another." " I 'm very much afraid of it," returned the other gravely. She sighed. " But I 'm so tired, Luella. Let me do nothing now." " That 's all right. You 're like that man in the Mythology at school. He had to touch the earth once in so often to renew his strength." " Yes, that 's it. I just need to be put out to grass for a little while." CIIAITKK XV I.K I>\y> A FKW days afterward Mrs. Darling'. j>as>in^ in her carriage. beckoned \Villard French, who bowed to her from the sidewalk. Obeying her gesture, he approached as the equipage stopped. \\ hv can I V(H come home to dinner with me '? ' she asked. I can. I remember the liree/.e von u'et on that fetching little balcony oi vonrs. lie stepped into the victoria and the horses started. " Poor boy! Is vonr room hot 7 ( 'oiue over and sta\' at onr house wlieiievi'i' you like. It will be open most ot the summer., tor Ilenrv will be coming and <<>iii< 1 . " Oil, you arc just about leaving, then ? I' reneh regarded a])])i'o\ r in^ly her u'ray and \\hite summer toilet and the cool little leal'v bonnet she \\ore. '"Yes. .Ilenrv promises to divide his time be tween Boston and ('rest \ iew. so I mi^'ht as well be there." French hoped his wife, if lie ever had one. would be less easily satisfied with impossible promises. SUMMER DAYS 221 " I wish I could do that, divide my time equally between Boston and Crest View." u I wisli you could. It should, be a few miles nearer ; but then, if it were, it would be instantly overrun and spoiled." French took off his hat to the freshening air and sighed. k% Only the wealthy enjoy this life," he remarked plaintively. His companion regarded him with approving scrutiny. " You 're not very clever, AVillard. You ought to marry Margaret Carruth." " That *s what I tell her." ' Oh, nonsense ! You ought to treat the matter seriously." " How do you know I don't, Molly Darling?" " Because I 'm sure no one in Boston has had so good a chance with her as yourself." ' No."' French shook his head. " We began keeping house too early in life. It 's against me. She forgets how amply I kept the larder supplied with mud-pies ; she even complains that I insisted on making most of them myself." 11 And you have drifted along, merely keeping up this joking relation between you, when you might have been that envied being, Margaret Carruth's husband." The speaker's tone was one of genuine annoy ance. French glanced at her curiously. The time had been when her resentment would have been roused by the slightest effort on his part in that direction. You know what a friend I am to YOU. "\Vil- lard. and I have your best good at heart." She gave him a sweet smile. * You know all women are mutch-makers, more or less. Perhaps I am more. French laughed. Mrs. Darling 1 flushed, then decided not to take the laugh as a rudeness. " At any rate. I have thought a great deal about this since Margaret s ama/inn 1 success at thai con cert. She and her mother are verv reserved, lint if cousin Fmeline is n t mortally opposed to Mar garet s being a professional singer, then I ha\e no penetration whatever. She naturally would lie: and. YOU know, there is no telling what Mar garet s heredit v is and Hush ! " interrupted .French softly. lie care ful : - TVho is to hear us. prav?" Oh. the carriage cushions may have ears: or the drivei', who knows? ' Mrs. Darling gave a scornful little laugh. You always were absurdly cautious. If you were an insurance man I 'm sure you would not accept anv risk greater than pig-iron under water." "That is all right." returned French persist ently. " If there is any division of opinion at present between Mrs. Carruth and Margaret, it behooves us not even to think of the thing that could divide them further." " That could snap them as far asunder as the HUMMER DAYS 228 poles, you mean," said Mrs. Darling, with a curi ous little smile. "Possibly," admitted "Willard ; " possibly not." " Well, I 'in not thinking 1 of it," said Mrs. Dar ling-, in a changed tone. " I 'm thinking- of the opposite ; namely, the thing- that could bring- them together : Margaret's marriage." " Two people's business, as sure as you live," suggested French. u Very well : but possibly you are one of the two : and even if I am not the other, I think you are not very civil." The speaker opened her eyes, the picture of grieved innocence. French shook his head. " I 'm only very sure that Margaret would not be pliable. There is no use in match-making for her." " But for you there might be," rejoined the other. " AVhen I see you throwing away a golden opportunity, what can I do ? Cousin Emeline treats you like one of the family, you know she does." " Yes." " Do you believe there is another man in Boston who has a better chance?" The question threw light for French. He thought he understood at last the trend of this unusual altruism. lie smiled. " I appreciate, at any rate, your delicacy in not endeavoring 1 to dis cover the condition of my heart." Mrs. Darling- shrugged her shoulders. " You have common sense. Yon ought to lie in tli (i seventh heaven if yon could make such a marriage as that. Look here. \\ illard. I '11 help von ', it. ( 'ome down to Spindrift tor vonr vacation of course you will spend parr oi' it with the Car- ruths." I hope to. I will help von. " How? I>v keeping \ andyke awav '.' Mrs. Darling colored violcntlv. " \\hat has he to do wit h it 7 " 1 don t know. Do von'/ .French -nnled directly into her displeased eyes. " 1 thought per haps I might run against him at ('hit Nest : that s all." Mrs. Darling recovered hcrseir. "Mr. \andvl\e is to he mv guest. "Oh. I see! Then von can have a ni'-e little puppet-show: hold him olV witli one hand and set me on with the other, and pull a string for Mag net to come and go. "You are an ungrateful, saucv man. and I have a great mind to wash mv hands of von. So far as Magnet is concerned, you would liet- ter. 1 he calile was never twisted that would serve as a string to pull in her case. Still." added French wickedlv, " if yon would transfer vonr kind inter est from me to \ andvkc. von might have more luck. lie isn't such an old storv : and con fidentially "since von ask me if there is a man SUMMER DAYS 225 in Boston with a better chance in that quarter than mine, I should guess, from numerous trifles light as aii'. that Burton Vandyke is his name." Mrs. Darling gave her dainty bonnet an un necessary rearrangement. " 1 should say," she returned carelessly, "that Mr. Vandyke is scarcely a marrying man." I suppose you know," remarked French after a pause, " that the Carruths are at Cliff Nest." l - Do you suppose they would go without saying good-by to me ? " From one offense French had gone on uncon sciously to another. His companion was extremely jealous of her reputation as near relative. "How is the little Gay lord getting on?" pro ceeded Mrs. Darling. " I should suppose she would wilt by this time under that roof. I won der if she is at all responsible for your cool atti tude toward golden opportunities ? " " Oh, Molly Darling," with a sigh that was dangerously near a yawn, u you press me close, considering the state of the thermometer. As to my ward, she has deserted me." 'Gone home? Uncivil little creature! Let me see, though : perhaps it is I who have been uncivil. I have n't visited her for a long time ; and I did mean to have her to dinner once." " Do it at Spindrift. She is trying her wings at Cliff Nest at present on an indefinite invita tion." Mrs. Darling was ver\ much astonished, and could not conceal it. She knew that the ('arruth-' philanthropy did not include spoiling their vaca tion. It was the sign of a sincere liking for Altliea that they had taken her with them. 1 his must lie your doing, \\ illard. !!\\ now aliout vour intluence with ( 'otisin Kiueline ? (mess again. 1 never lifted mv linger. It was only that Magnet said. Come.' and m\ ward did not hesitate an instant between us," Margaret Carruth and that little light-In aded. superficial, slangv Slowlv. slowK ! I)ra\v it mild. Molly! ^ on meant to sav that little clear-headed, kind-hearted, lionot. resolute, geiierou^ girl It /'.< that tiresome child, then, \\illard French ! " \\ hv.' asked the voimi;' man plaintively. must it lie anvhodv before dinner on a dav like this? How j^'lad I am that von are incapa ble of offering a man hot soup to-night! Mrs. JKirlow would do it and nevci 1 ilim-h. A rent those Darling's hospitable heels hovering over u- now up there on the baleony V added rrencli. cruning his neck and lifting his hat to lus lio-^t. who nodded down as the carriage stopped. Mrs. Carruth looked up at the tea-table a few evenings afterward from the examination ot the letters that had been brought in to her. * VMM Ell DAYS 227 " Mrs. Darling has arrived at Spindrift," she said. 'Whore is Mr. I )arling ? " asked Miss Beebe alertly. " She says he has just left town, and will come up here when he gets back. I do hope he can." l - Does n't generally get a chance to be here much, does he ? " inquired Miss Luella, endeavor ing not to throw too much significance into her tone. " lie is a very busy man ; busy and hard-work ing." Mrs. Carruth glanced again at her letter. " Mrs. Darling wants me to send you, Margaret and Althea, to see her at once." Althea looked at Margaret, who answered : Yes, we will drive over to-morrow, or perhaps ride. Do you ride, Althea? " " Do I ? ' Bred an bawn in a brier patch, Brer Fox. Bred an' bawn in a brier patch.' I used to tell Mr. French that missing my pony was the worst privation I had all winter." Tne girls, when they arrived at Spindrift the next dav, found Mrs. Darlinir Ivine' in a hammock i- O t> O reading. " You naughty girl ! " she said good-humoredly to Althea. " Now Margaret has you to ride with, she will never need me any more." It was Mrs. Darling's habit to imply at all times a condition of things between herself and the Carruths which never existed. In the years during which they 228 had spent their summers ;it ('rot View, the two had ridden together twice. "How well von both seem already, -he contimicd. hospitably piv-ent- in-' chairs. "I suppose i i,> manner. It is pretty, isn't it?" she re-ponded. This is the one that should be named Nest,' " continued Althea. ( )h. tins is a humble little -parrow > ne>t. clo>e to the ground." said Mrs. Darlin--. Marpii'et's is the eaii'le s ne-t hi^li on the eiitV. 1 [o'\ e\ -er. each has its ^ood points, so lon<; - as the little liirds ai^'ree in it. as thev do in the hymn. - And lihould n't." returned Miss (ia\lord. It co-t - tiid much. I ;IID economi/in:4'. Yes. I have heard about your >lai;e !io\. \Yell. at all events. I \vas slnv\vd. and I baited Spindrift with Mi 1 , \and\ke. If anything could content Ilenrv here, it would lie In-; presence. A- il he needed anv attraction beside \:n\'. said Margaret, and Mrs. Darling .-o \\rll kne\v her sincerity that -he experienced a scn-alion of pleasure. Margaret s sei'ciiitv, too. at her an nouncement, was LiTatit viii".'. In \ andvke's case Mrs. DaiiinL;' did not e\en led the need of rous ing the envv of otlier women. All >he wanted \vas that they should let him alone and leave him to her. But the mo-t honest ot \vomcii \\ould a.->n:ne in such a case. She \vas not altogether sati-lied. French's hints had heightened suspi cions already formed. I suspect we shall (juarrel a bit over \\ il- lard." continued Mrs. Darling. You will want him and I shall want him." Miss (ia\lord listened attentively, although the appearance was that her attention was alisorlted by the landscape. Probably we can effect a compromise. re turned Margaret. \Ve can divide him." \ ery well. ^ on may keej) his head, to make love to you. j^'irls. and I will take his feet. I need him more for tennis and dancing. As tor you. Althea (iavlord." turning to the ",'irl with mock' sr.i/ .]//; R DAYS 231 severity, " you and I must renew our acquaint ance. You have been such a hermit all winter." ' What nerve ! " thought Althea. What had Mrs. Darling- done to prevent her being 1 a hermit? But she replied mildly that she should be very glad. "Have you tried the bathing yet?'' pursued the hostess. " Yesterday," returned Althea. ' Miss Beebe went in with us." As she said it, she laughed with reluctant, infectious heartiness, her eyes be coming moist, as was their wont when she sus- spected her mirth might be disapproved by Mar garet. The latter smiled. " It seemed funny to Althea that Miss Beebe should wear her eye-glasses into the water," she explained. kt And it was cold," added Miss Gaylord, " and she stood on the edge and shook first one foot and then the other, just the way our terrier does when he gets into a place where there are burrs, and her hair was done up in a yellow handkerchief." 'Whose hair?" suggested Mrs. Darling inso- oo o lently. " And her teeth chattered." "Whose teeth?" " Children, children ! " protested Margaret. "You looked too blue and pinched yourself, Al thea, to make any comments on other people." kk I know I did," laughed the girl gayly. " For the first minute I shrank till it seemed :is if there would be nothing' lett of me : then I expanded. It was line! Miss Beel)e said herself she disliked it as much as a cat would : but she is <> 1 oin<>' to do it for her hcall h. The irrepressible mischief in Mi-s (lavlord's countenance reminded Mrs. Darling of sundry incidents and experiences at ('olorado Springs. It suddenly occurred to her that in the girl's cvi- dcntlv intimate relations with Miss ('arruth, Al- \vhicli would snrelv arouse Margaret > disapproval of her eou-in s wife, and in view of the fact of Mrs. Darlings nc^lip'iicc o! the "jrl ail winter. it was certainly greatly to Mis.. (ia\!ord'-> credit if she had. not done so. Mrs. I);;rliii^ believed that she had not. and -he looked now at Althea enrionslv. and mentally pronounced her a trump. I in sorry 1 have 11 t seen more of you. she said abrupt Iv. Margaret, don't you want to let me keep Althea here to-lli^'lll ''. In niv habit ? Oh no. ! could n t ! ])rotestecl the u'irl <|uickly. I have plenty of thing's that you could wear, and there is no one to see you but mermen. lint 1 could n t let Magnet canter awa\ miles and miles alone. w - My dear, she has done it hundreds of times. Iloweyer, if you prefer another occasion, I will not insist, su MML-: LI DAYS 233 When, a few days afterward, Mrs. Darling- drove over to Cliff Nest, the maid told her that the family were out and scattered. The girl thought she might perhaps find Miss Gaylord, who had not been feeling well, and would not be likely to be gone far from home. wi I will find her myself if you think she is elose by/' said Mrs. Darling. The maid pointed out a clump of firs across a rustic bridge that spanned a ravine, saying that there were hammocks there and that Miss (jay- lord was fond of the place ; so the visitor strolled thither. Truly, she thought as she walked, it was worth considerable exertion to reach at last a summer home like this. The wild beauty of the spot ap pealed with an ever-fresh charm. On the bridge she paused, hemmed in by firs of arrow - like straightness, rooted far below in the ravine, whose smooth bark and bluish tinge explained the bal samic odors in the air. On the other side was the grove of sturdy weather-beaten trees, beyond which the rock-precipice descended to the tum bling blue waters foaming against its crags with a rhythmic roar. Held safe above the climbing, inexorable power, lay in a hammock the young girl Mrs. Darling sought. She was reading, and her earnest brow betokened an absorbing interest in her book. " For pity's sake, lend it to me ! " said the visitor, her voice sounding shrill TO ears grown wonted to Oceans heavy buss. I am looking for something as interesting as that. Lie still! Don't move! ' for Althea was hastening to ri>e. I will take this other hammock. \\ hat ai'e \oi; reading ? " The Odyssey." The Odyssey! Mrs. Darling's amaze ment was ludicrous. --AVhat for?" Because Miss Magnet was surprised that 1 never had read it. Well. Margaret Carrnth is the typical Boston girl, sure enough." "Minns the eve-glasses, drav.led Althea. "They II come in good time, if she is lo\allv literary." She reads everything that is worth \\hile. The response for some reason made Mrs. Dar ling think" of Burton Vandyke. Another cause for suspicion. " A pitv she did n t marry her cousin llenrv. she remarked lightlv. "lint what she proliaM\ \vill do is to follow his example and inarrv a dolt. I low disloyal of you, Allie. to desert from tin- ranks of the ignoramuses or ignorami - which is it? It von are growing so learned, perhaps yon can tell me." ('all me Althea. please." said the girl with what to her visitor seemed a very funny demure- ness. SUMMER DAYS 235 " Why ? I used to know a jolly girl named Allie Gay lord.'' " Yes, but she 's dead. Died in Newbury Street, Boston." " And Willard French never told me. How heartless of him ! " " Perhaps he thought it would n't interest you." " There it comes ! " remarked Mrs. Darling buoyantly. tk I wondered how long it would be before you reminded me that I have failed in friendship. I know it, Allie ; but it has been a very strange winter to me, a very strange winter, and very full/' The speaker looked off through the trees to the foam creaming over a dis tant ledge. ' 1 have been, in a small way, study ing too." " There 's no resisting Boston's culture, is there ? " returned Althea, closing one eye and gaz ing unblinkingly at the firmament with the other. " Well, in my case," said Mrs. Darling, poking the toe of her shoe into the matted needles that carpeted the stony ground, " it was a mixture of Boston and Philadelphia. Mr. Darling is always patient, and Mr. Vandyke has bothered himself a lot for me." " Mr. Darling is patient," assented Miss Gay- lord, and the mild answer flushed her companion's cheek. She had not forgotten the day when the Western girl arraigned her in nervous if not good English for her dallyings ; but she had taken the 236 long drne to Cliff \est to-day with a purpose, and fortune had favored her in finding Althea alone. She would not waste time in trivial reminiscences. I forget if you know Mr. Vandyke, -lie said. Well, that is amusing ! " remarked Mi-s (iav- lord nonchalantly. "Ask Mr. Vandyke if ! don't make as good lea as yon do. Is it possible? \\ ell. my dear. I be^m to think that it is I who have been a recluse. l>ut then, of course, he is such a friend ol \\ illard French. There was a moment > pause : llien Mrs. Dar ling went on in a lowered tone. !)<> you know, I heard something strange two or three davs be fore I left to\\n. 1 heard Margaret Carruth's name coupled with Mr. Vandyke's. -What is >trangc about that?" a>ked Althea so coolly that the visitor's heart gave a little thump, although she returned her look- calmly. Oh. you think' it natural. Mr. Vandyke is too intimate a friend of mine to lie having definite plans of that sort without my knowing it. "1 ou. however, may know more ol Margarets attitude than I do. The slight sneering emphasis on the name roused all Althea's caution and loyalty: but the careless ness of her manner was unchanged. " ( )h no." she returned lightly. I 'in not sure whether Miss Magnet remembers his existence between times or not. She rarely mention.^ him. SUMMER DAYS 2o7 That is the reason I speak of it at all. I am on the outside, looking at them like the rest of the world, and I realize how gladly many people would see them join hands." " Why ? " " Oh, there would he siich evident fitness in it." And then, for Molly Darling's punishment, be cause she had startled her with the fear of having 1 admitted something to Margaret's hurt, Althea gave a description, humorous but significant, of the manner in which Burton Vandyke had seen their party off in Boston. Mrs. Darling listened and laughed. lie had not sent her any flowers. lie had not been at the train to say good-by to her, so she laughed appre ciatively, and told Althea it did her good to hear her funny yarns again, and that she must surely come over to Spindrift and stay for days. But her talk thereafter was vague. She did not specify the days, and it did not astonish Althea that she was never sent for. CHAPTEK XVI THK MKTUAYAL THK light that never was on sea or land e'lvel- o])cd her surroundings lor Margaret ('arrnth in these davs. I he radiance ol a gre;it content beamed softly in the depths of her eyes, and some thing new to her strong and undemonstrative nature lent s\\eetness to her smile. Miss l>eelie watched her dubiously. I ve always thought to!k> in love were mo.-tlv inelau- choly." slie remarked to Mrs. Carruth. much to that lady's amusement. ' Then Margaret is not." replied the latter. k> \\ ell. something has happened to her. de clared Miss Lnella. Margaret knew herself that something had hap pened toher that transfiguring something which turns a dingy town street into a paradisiacal bower, and made the surroundings at ('lift' .Nest take on enchantment which filled each hour with wondrous possibilities. Kverv breeze was the bearer of a message, everv ecstatic bird-song a voicing of her own heart's fullness. Since that dav of parting on the train she had not doubted ; then what remained but to thank THE BETRAYAL 239 God for life, and wait for the fruition of that which had blossomed ? Alone in a rocky seat which was her secret, hid den hy ledges of granite which sheltered her from too boisterous wind, the girl often lived over the calendar of her winter. Its red letter days were few, very few considering how much from her mother's standpoint had been accomplished. It astonished her to realize how comparatively seldom she and Burton Vandyke had been to gether, how little she really knew about him of his previous life and friends, of his family and traditions. All that seemed superfluous. The leaping of her thought to his, the deep satisfaction of his presence, the first proud, glad admission of her soul that there might be a mate for her, were the oases along the way which promised that her wilderness should blossom as the rose. She even dwelt willingly on the moments when his abstraction had hurt and disappointed her. His lack of susceptibility had been one of his charms. She leaned upon his intellect ; and that day in the train she had read his dismay at finding himself robbed of that intellect's supremacy. " Will he be afraid of me of my money ? " she mused, leaning her chin in her palm, her shining eyes looking out on the billows. " Will he be afraid of mother ? " The addition brought a tide of red to her cheeks and a catch in her breath. Ah. 1 hope mother will be careful!" she breathed, halt' aloud. She ran over in her mind the list of men who had wished to marry her: true hearts were anionu' them, that she knew, hut they had never touched her with aught hut uneasiness. Among them \ andvke towered like a king 1 . Fi-oni them she had always turned away toward her ideal of the professional life. .Before him that" ideal hesitated, shrank. Could her voiee express to him a tithe of the nameless, unutterable things that he had brought to her consciousness and that made lite the heavenly tiling it was. its gi!i would not be hidden. All the world, from the far-reaching vault of the firmament to the tiniest wave-kissed pebble below her. held a promise for her now. the portent of great Li'ood, \\ hen would he come '! \\ here should she iirst meet him 7 \\ here would thev be when - he - Mrs. Darling had been here several days ago and had told Althea that it would not be long be fore he arrived. She. Margaret, must call at Spindrift before lie came. \\liy not now. this very afternoon '.' It would be uns;;te to postpone. Althea was away somewhere. All the better. Margaret was in the mood to have no companion but Nature. She would ; ike a bri>h gallop to h -r Cousin's cottage and be back" by tea-time. As she went into the house. Miss ]>eebe on the THE BETRAYAL 241 piazza called to her, " That you, Margaret ? Where are you off to now? " The girl came and leaned her arms on the back of a chair, her look still far away among those dreams that had come to be life's most substantial reality. " I thought I would ride over to Mrs. Darling's a little while." Miss Luella scrutinized her appreciatively. " Seems 's if I 'd hardly seen you since I came here, Margaret. You don't look like the girl you were when I talked to you last in Boston. You were n't rinding life so interesting then as you do now, seems to me." " Is life ever so interesting as it is here ? " re turned Margaret. " Nice place ; and it would do you good, I think, to fling all care to the winds while you are here." " Why, I do." " Xot if you feel obliged to make calls on Mrs. Darling," said Miss Beebe bluntly. Margaret raised her eyebrows. " She is alone now. Later she will be surrounded with guests." " Yes, and I know Mr. Vandyke is going to be one of them. She 's silly about him," said Miss Luella intrepidly. " I 've seen it." So had Margaret many a time, with a fastidious shrinking which had in it no tinge of jealousy. " I tell you, Margaret Carruth, it 's the short- sightedest thing a woman can do to marry a man ii' she finds out e\eii at the eleventh hour that she isn't wholly happy in the thought of it. Talk about broken promises and honor, and all the rest ot it! Miss Beelie's voice e.\])i'essed \a-t scorn. ' Look at Molly Darling. She did that tiling, as I hap])en to know: and dearly her hnsliand has had to pay for that hardly kept promise." \\ hv. mother tiever told me this." slid Mar garet, wondering. "Did siie ask to lie n leased, and did Cousin Henry refuse to release her?" Indeed she did not. Mi'. Darling svas a rieh man th<-n. and she wanted to marry him in -jute of the fact that he liored her." - lie loves her still.' said Margaret. and 1 suppose uv should not criticise her. At the sime time her thoughts reverted to yesterday, when she had met Molly Darling walking with a man t'riend. a mutual ac(|ua'.ntance. named Badger. \\hnm Mar garet heartily disapproved. Her family pride had been afflicted by the familiar altitude this person was taking with her cousin s wile, and the pleased coquetry of her responses. .For Hie first time in her life she had determined to speak to Mrs. Dar- IniL; 1 and lie;.; 1 her not to lie too gracious to this man. I know von and your mother have persevered in a wise silence," returned Miss Heche; "lint down here, where a body can breathe, it seems as if freedom of speech ought io come in too." Cousin Henry is such a good man." said Mar- THE BETRAYAL 243 garet gently. " It seems as if she must tire of most of these friends of hers and eome to enjoy his companionship more." " Bnt what I say is," declared Miss Beebe vig orously, " she did him a wrong to marry him." k - Of course ; if any woman marries a man for his money, she does him a wrong." u Yes ; but my point is that even if he had n't been well off, and she had married him simply to keep a promise, she would n't have been doing the highly virtuous thing that people usually consider it. It 's never too late to mend until the nuptial knot is tied, according to my theory. Dead prom ises should n't be considered any more than the withered leaves that fly around in autumn. It is too dangerous, too dangerous." " AVhat a radical you are ! " exclaimed Mar garet, the irrepressible fountain of happiness in her heart sending its sparkling light up into her eyes as she smiled. " You make me afraid of my own opinions when I hear them stated so ex tremely." " You hold that opinion too, then ? " Miss Beebe looked interested. " Yes. It is comparatively easy to hold it from the woman's standpoint, though. When a woman gives up a man, even if the world says she jilts him, public opinion is not hard on her ; but if a man breaks his compact with a woman, he is considered dishonored. " 244 -"Well." said Miss Luella, "you see. he engagement. Anything else seems to me a short-slight"!! and false sense of honor. " Well, you "ve got good courage. I guess if it Avas your own brother, you d weaken out ot that conviction. No, ' said Margaret with firmness. I would stand by him. 1 would encourage' him. It the other woman would have him. I should help on the 1 match. .If society looked askance at him.it shoulel look askance at me'. Miss Heche shook her head doubtfully. " It sounds like an easy, selfish good time you re plan ning out for that brother of yours. Miss Carrutli smiled. " Where have your prin ciples lied to. I should like' to kmnv '.' "Take care'. Margaret." said Miss Beel>0 cau tiously. " Principle, and good times don f yeryolten go to!rether," THE BETRAYAL 245 The girl laughed. "O Miss Luella, it is easy enougii to trace your ancestry. I believe the Puritans refrained from eating' pie just because they liked it." " "Well, yon know there 's a general feeling that when it 's the man who has made the mistake, he ought to go through with it. Men aren't so good as women, of course," added Miss Beebe naVvely, " or there would n't be laws made about breach of promise cases." " Oh," Margaret's lips curled slightly, " we are not talking about that sort of people. It happens sometimes to a loyal, well-balanced, honorable man that he gets into an engagement with the wrong woman." " And for her he is the right man," put in Miss Beebe. " Granted. There must be a hurt somewhere. The question is, does n't mother's favorite rule apply, and should n't the effort be to bring about the greatest good to the greatest number ? " " You mean that the man, having proceeded to fall in love with the right woman, should marry her regardless of obstacles, so that two out of three instead of one out of three, should be happy." " Not only that," said Margaret gravely ; "there are the children to be considered. I know chil dren of the rich too who are like plants in a dark cellar, because the sunshine of love is n't all about them." 24G Vv 1-11. if you are going on io the next genera- tion. you have thought this out." It is a way I have if a subject conies to my mind at all. I oiten think ho\v different niv life ami inheritance would liave been if father and mother had not been so devoted to each other. You remember father's ways with mother?" Miss Heche's eves fell awav from the clear ones regard in LI; her. "Oh. ves indeed, ves indeed." -he replied hastily. Tlien beside, if marriage is marriage at all. it is a spiritual tiling." said Margaret. "\\'h"rc is one when the whole real >cli ol you ^oes out to another'.'' \\ hat a strange, distorted thing it is to call that honor, goodness, truth, generosity, and ail the other terms that people are \\illing to a|>])lv to such an act. it the\" happen to discover that any man in fiction or in fact is denying him self and fulfilling his outgrown compact! I may stand alone in my theory, ! know it is unpopular enough, but 1 should honor the man who had courage to decline at all risks to perjure himself, just as much as I should the woman who refused to marry except for love. Mi>s Iieebe ga/ed fascinated at the illumined, expressive face. " You 're at a very interesting stage of life, my dear." she said at last, * the time when all theo ries seem practical. THE BETRAYAL 247 " I have an idea that I shall not change my mind." ' Wo all had that idea once," returned Miss Beebe. Margaret, smiling, straightened herself. " Well, I must get down from my hobby and mount my horse, or I shall not get back from Mrs. Darling's in time for tea," she said, and went into the house to put on her habit. As it happened, her choice of a day was not a good one for visiting Mrs. Darling. That lady had in the morning received a letter from Van dyke which disappointed and angered her. He had written that his hopes for a connected vacation were becoming very dim ; that lie should hope to run down to see his friends at Crest View before the season was over. It would be a cool ing and comfortable sensation to be able to place them in their summer homes and to think of them when the thermometer was at its height, but there was no prospect now that he could make such a visit as Mrs. Darling had kindly proposed. " This is the Carruths' doing ! " she thought hotly. She had dwelt on Althea's picture of the parting in the train, and pondered upon the girl's gratuitous hints of Mrs. Carruth's liking for Van dyke, until she had built up a supposititious con dition of things to which this note gave the finish ing touch. She was bitterly, painfully jealous of Mar- garet Carrutli. \\ hat a lot was hers ! And >he t'oroaw a future where \ andvke >tood li\ ihe twirl's side in a life crowned by all the prosperiu in this worlds gilt. ()nlv now she discovered that tins expected visit had been the jtivot on which her summer turned. The pleasure of being \andvl\es hostess, ot planning lu> actions, of driving witli him to ('hli' Nest and letting the ('arruths see their excellent comradeship, of ^ning \\iih him to the assemblies at the adjacent ia.-h- ionable hotel: in short, of owning his escort for a fort uiu'iit in the face and eves of tlne who would thus be forced to acknowledge the scope of her fascination. tins had been her dear de-ire : and it had been brought low by what'.' Doubtless by i he influence of the (.'arruths. whose j-.trong. <|inet siij)rem;icv she was forced to acknowledge with a ri'viitmeiit which was burning Hereelv at the mo- jnent when Margaret jumped lightlv down at her door. Mrs. Darling i-ecogni/ed her \\ilh a leap of the heart. Knowing her own excitement, she sum moned all her self-control. Angry a> she was. to quarrel with Miss Carrutli would be an impolitic act. far-reaching in its consequences. Like a flash (here came into her mind a ma\nu quoted to her bv her husband in one of his rare and gentle pro tests against' her reckless speeches : THE BETUAYAL 249 Here Margaret caught sight of her through the window and hastened in at the open door. How happy she looked ! Happiness is a beauti- fier, and in a face like Margaret's, where expres sion is so varying and powerful as at times to be transfiguring, it was a power indeed. Its elo quence did not soothe her hostess, who instantly wondered if this gladness might not proceed from a letter different in purport from that which lay on the table near her. "How does it happen that you are not out on the piazza?" asked the girl. " The day is per fect." " I know. I have a headache slight, it will pass. Sit down." u I see you are not yourself. Too bad ! Ills of the flesh should not pursue us here. It is well that it happens that you have not the responsibil ity of a guest just now." Airs. Darling's suspicious ear thought she de tected a note of exultation in the speech. " Yes," she replied, in a measured way. " I had expected Mr. Vandyke might be here by this time." " Oh, I did n't know it was so soon." " Perhaps you have learned of some change in his plan." " 1? No." Margaret could not help it: a rich tide of color turned even her brow rosy, and Mrs. Darling's gaze devoured her. " Her mother has written him, then," she fhoughl swiftly, -\\here is Miss (iavlord to day?" she asked. ! think she went sailing with one of the ii-h- ermen. She knows them all better in a fortnight i ha:i 1 ha v*e come to do in years." Such rich content spoke in llic girl's l>ri;>,ht tone. Such gifts were her.-. it seemed unjust that he;;;!!), a clear conscience, and the love of such a in:;n sliould 'te liea|)ed upon tlie pressed- down measure of her lieneiil s ! How are voiir plans for the stage prepress- ing v " asked Mrs. Darling suddenly. Margaret's face sobered. \\ hat do von mean '.' " ()h. i ; n t it a little unnecessavv to l>e so elo.^e- niouihed with me? It is eonimon talk in Iioston that you enter the profession o! a singer in the autumn. ' I should think yon would know that common talk is often wrong. " Yon can tell me." said Mrs. Darling, with a certain hardness of manner that was foreign to her light ways, and surprised the visitor. You need not l>e afraid I shall talk. ^ on told me yourself long ago that it was your amUition. ' It was," said Margaret, hesitating. Has it ceased to lie? asked the hostess sharply. "That is strange, alter your success of St. Timothy's. One mi'_ht guess that somebody had turned your thoughts toward a domestic life." THE BETRAYAL 251 The girl bit her lip. A rough hand seemed knocking 1 at the door of her inmost reserve. "Mother and I have had a talk about it," she replied after an instant, with quiet dignity. " We have suspended a conclusion." ' I see, until until what ? " Mrs. Darling gave a hard laugh, exulting in the success with which, she had sent the; genial light out of the eyes regarding her, and summoned a shrinking, star tled look in its place ; but Margaret gathered her forces. ' Until the working season begins again. I shall be helped to see what to do by the way opportunities open." ' I understand. Well, good luck follows you. You were born with the golden spoon in your mouth. Heigho ! mine was pewter." " No indeed, Cousin Molly/' The girl spoke gently. She saw that her hostess was under some strain. Even if it were only that of ennui, the result was lamentable. It was rare that Mrs. Darling heard the cousinly address, but instead of being pleased, she suspected the compassion of a successful rival. " You must n't say that," went on Margaret. " Your path looks rosy to an outsider, though you may see thorns, and you have the dearest husband in the world." Mrs. Darling bit her lip. She took this refer ence as a reproof. " Really," she said, smiling, " I think I ought to lend Henry to the Carruths. They appreciate his virtues so highly. Margaret smiled too. good-temperedly. and arose. "As he is n t here, lend us yourself, won't you? Can't yon be more neighborly ? You have called at Cliff Nest only once." Yes, I '11 come soon. Fred Badger wants me to try some new horses of his to-morrow. \Ve may as well come to your house as am where. Miss Carruth stiffened at the name. She dreaded to express her feelings, but she summoned her moral courage. I m sorry to say it. Cousin Molly, but I don't like Mr. J>adger. Please come without him.' - Oh, you don't like Mr. Badger ? " Mrs. Dar ling's breath began to come with difficulty. " \\ by. pray? Are not my friends good enough for you ? "He isn't a good man. Cousin Molly." The girl spoke deprecating!}'. "And lie is n't a man to whom we can do any good. Mrs. Darling's nostrils were dilating with her effort at controlling the hysterical breathing as she stood looking hard into her visitor's soft eyes. This was Margaret's chance to carry out her de termination. It was very difficult, but she had always had a certain influence with Mrs. Darling, and so good an opportunity would not occur again. " I saw you with him yesterday. I could n't THE BETRAYAL 253 bear to see his open admiration. It is n't compli mentary to your husband to let such a man look look closely at you." Mrs. Darling gasped and laughed. This girl in her arrogance, for whom the cream of life rose, ready for her fastidious acceptance, dared criticise her, reprove her ! All the cumulative resentment of the day flared to a blaze of jealous hatred, whose only hope of satisfaction lay in dragging Margaret from her pedestal and seeing her writhe in the dust. The laugh died. " By what right do you dare dictate, or even suggest to me as to my friends ? " The baleful fire in the speaker's eye, the white rage in her face, appalled Margaret, but she did not quail. " Only the right of relationship. Only that your husband is my cousin," she answered, the calm and dignity of her bearing undisturbed. Some foreign power inside Mrs. Darling seemed suddenly to possess her. She lost all self-control. " You are not," she retorted savagely, " you are not his cousin ! You are not a Carruth at all ! " " Poor girl ! " said Margaret, laying her hand on the other's ann. " Lie down, lie down on the divan. You are really ill." Mrs. Darling shook her arm free and laughed. " I never was better. You are not a Carruth. People don't know who you are, but they know that much. Common talk is right for once. Mrs. CniTiitli's position tics people's tongues, hut not their t honghts." The anxious ga/e in the girls eves changed slowlv to incredulity, perplexity, thru to a lilank slare. while she stood immovable, the iolds oi her riding - habit falling about her. Mrs. Darling gloated over the transformation. Only when a white, stiff change came and altered the \ onng countenance until no one would have recognized it as Lelonging to the girl who entered tin 1 room a little while ago. did her sweet revn^v bes/in to seem dearlv bought. "Say that again! ' said Margaret at last, hoarselv. I don t understand. Mrs. Darling shrugged her shoulders, braying the chill that had begun to follow her heat. ' It s a fact. ^ on have no right to Henry or to any of the Carruths. You were she smiled insolentlv. " I suppose Mrs. C'arruth knows what yon were. I don't." CHAPTER XVII MOTHER A.ND CHILD IN the silence that followed, Mrs. Darling's sated anger changed in spite of herself to tardy regret and fear. Margaret's starting eyes were terrible to her in the unseeing expression which came into them. Unable longer to bear the still ness, she broke it. " I have given you a shock," she said, trying to speak hardily, " but you forced me into it. I had better go home with you." The girl's eyes focused again upon her hostess with a look of shrinking and horror hard to sus tain. " No," she said softly, but with such repug nance that Mrs. Darling stood mute while Mar garet turned and with slow steps seemed to grope her way from the room. She passed out the house-door, across the piazza, and down the steps. Her horse whinnied at her approach. She looked at him strangely. He be longed to the Carruth household. He was none of hers, foolish creature, with the expressive, affectionate eyes, gazing at her as he pawed the sandy soil. He would have to know it in time. Perhaps he did know it now, and was keeping it from her like all the rest. When next she was conscious of consecutive thought, she was halfway home, the horse Itcncath her hastening at Ids best speed to his supper, unguided. One consideration came to her with a throb, a gleam of relief amid black clouds of shame and dishonor. ' My voice. It does not belong to the Car- ruths, and the world is wide." She held her stunned and straying mind to this idea while the muffled thud of her horse's hoofs beat steadily on the soft ground. At last he can tered into the domain of Cliff Nest. The sky. the sea, the rocks, the trees, were cruelly, deceit full v similar to those she had left in that other state of life when she was Margaret Carruth. sovereign of happiness. Now she was a clod, a stumbling, aimless, nameless thing that must go on living. The horse would stop in a minute, then what should she do ? A bright voice sounded from the piazza, a voice from the world she used to live in: Althea's, gay, reproachful. It seemed for an instant to rally her unstrung nerves into order. " You runaway ! Are n't you ashamed to steal such a march on me ? " The girl ran to meet her, her face full of welcome. Margaret slipped from her horse, and Althea, as she affectionately seized her gloved hands, started at the staring eyes and pale face that met her. MOTHER AND CHILD 2oi " What 's the matter ? You have had a sun stroke? What?" " No ; I 'm only not a Carruth. That is all." Margaret passed her hand over her eyes. " If there were any way of my being' alone with you, Althea, perhaps I shouldn't go mad trying to think." Poor Althea nearly fainted in her vague terror, but love made her heroic. " Tea is just ready," she answered. " Go up to your room, and I will arrange it and be with you soon." Then, her knees quaking under her, the young girl went to the dining-room, where Mrs. Carruth and Miss Beebe were already seated. " I just saw Margaret ride in," said Mrs. Car ruth, looking up. " Althea, won't you ask her not to mind waiting to change her habit ? It would be so much more sociable to come in just as she is." " We want a favor," said Althea. And if her usual deliberate tone was a little unsteady, the others did not notice it. " May I take some tea upstairs for Magnet and me? We have some important matters to discuss." Mrs. Carruth looked surprised. " Won't they keep one hour ? " she began ; but Miss Beebe interrupted. " I wonder if Mr. Vandyke has n't come to Mrs. Darling's?" she inqiiired, looking at Althea. I don't know. I don't know what Magnet has to tell inc. There! Let "cm go ! " laughed Mi>s I>ee!>e. k> (Jirls \\i!l he girls." And Mrs. ( 'arrntli. iniiidi'iil of past eoiiinients on Margaret's lack of girlish privileges, agreed reluctantly. She did not sec nnicli ^ense in the arrangement, and she liked utility. Alrhea. with a tremhling heart, approached her friends door and knocked. The fact that there was no answer dismayed her still further: 1-nt overcoming her dread, she opened the door and entered. Margaret was sitting there in her haliit. staring into vacancy. She looked up at Althea's entrance, and watched her while she arranged the tca-trav on a little talile. The girl had declined to let a servant assist her. " I m glad yon are here, ' said Margaret, ap proaching her friend as she caught her eye, and smiling strangely as she put an arm around her. ^ on are not a (/arrni h eit her. ' A\ IP,', what do von mean lv that. Magnet dar ling V " asked Althea. \\\\\ wait : you frighten me ly looking so ill. Drink a cup of this tea. and afterwards we will talk." -That tea? Oh. no. I have no right to it, yon know. I have no right to anything here except" - lowering her voice a shameful one. Poor Mr. Carruth ! sighing. Mo wonder ho MOT II Kit AND CHILI) 259 " Conic here, Magnet." Althea spoke firmly, and led her to a wicker divan. Drawing her down, she held her hands tightly. " Look straight into my eyes. I understand at last that Mrs. Darling has been talking to yon. Do yon know that she hates yon? Hates yon chiefly on account of Mr. Vandyke. She is jealous of yon." 4w Oh, no. AVhy should she be ? She has known all the time that she could stab me when the time came. It is common talk. Everybody knows it. I suppose you have known it all along." kk Known what ? " " That I am not a Carruth." " What nonsense ! I never heard of such a thing ! I don't believe it ! " " Why, that makes me still gladder yon are here." Margaret smiled again in the way that, for all its gentleness, made a chill creep over her companion. " AVe learn of it together. I have a real friend. How much that means to a girl who has lost all : a shelter, clothing, food, and " in a frightened whisper "a name. I have no name, Althea." " My sweetheart, it 's false ! " A sob rose in the girl's throat. " Mrs. Darling has lied to you. Be sure of it. She must have been mad with rage, she who is always so politic. Let me call your mother " " No ! " The exclamation was so sudden that Althea started, and Margaret went on deliberately. A UliKAT LQVK ' Xever again in this world will 1 see her who should not have been my mother. She could not now support the sight of me any more than J could bear to sec her." Margaret Can-nth, yon ama/.e me! Poor girl ! with a change of tone. * That wicked v,onmn has half-cra/ed yon. or yon would not lie so ungrateful. Do you mean to say you are so (jiiick to believe a jealous, frantic creature like Mrs. Diirling, that yon will not eyeii hear your mother's explanation?" Althea took her com panion in her arms and drew her head against her own cheek. Shut your eyes. dear, and think of your mother's face. Think of her tair brow, with those clear eyes looking out on all the world to do good. Think of her directness and honesty and power. Think of the respect felt for her. the universal deference to her wisdom ; her lofty aims and her beautiful life. Margaret passed her hand over her eyes con fusedly. " She has deceived me." she said. " Mrs. Darling has deceived you worse, lie sure of it. () Magnet! when I think of your suffer ing the last hour, and how you have credited llie worst that woman could concoct. I want to but she will be punished. Now. don't disappoint me. ^ ou have been my ideal so long. I>e strong and sensible and generous. Whatever fire there is under all this foul smoke, we "11 find it, never fear; but you must get back your self -control. MOTHER A XI) CHILD 2G1 I will make some fresh tea, and you must drink it." Margaret leaned back exhausted, and followed her with her eyes as she went to the kettle. When the tea was brought she drank some ; and mean while Althea's thoughts flew fast. She shrank inexpressibly from inflicting such pain upon Mrs. Carruth as would result from bringing her here now, even if Margaret would consent to see her. " 1 think I will go to Boston to-night," said Margaret suddenly, setting her cup down beside her. " To whom, Magnet ? " asked her friend in dis may. " To Willard. lie is not a Carruth, and I be lieve he will be a friend to me still, and help me to plan." Althea's heart fluttered fast, but she controlled herself. " Very well," she said quietly. " Of course I shall go with you when you go ; but you are not reasoning sensibly, Magnet. You are too ignorant of facts. I have seen Mrs. Darling in hysterics. I know how excitable she is, and how angry she can grow." As she paused, mute in her puzzle, a ray of light suddenly came to the girl's distressed brain. A face, small, alert, with ever-inquiring eye glasses, dawned upon her problem like the vision of a deliverer. " My dear, wait ! " she said suddenly. " If there is any truth in what you have heard, and that there has been talk about it. Miss Beebe will know all that any one does. It would be wild for YOU to go to Boston without understanding the situation. Let me bring Mis-; Beebe to you. ('an you manage not to li-t - any one else know? I m sure I can. said Althea. relieved by the tacit consent. She moved to the door \\ith alac rity. "I will send her to you and come back when she has gone. No. you must be here. It would n t be fair to von to let yon go on as my friend in igno rance. ' Althea looked back reproachfully : but the rigid face and wide eves warned her to let minor con siderations drop. She ran downstairs and put her head into the dining-room. k -.Miss Beehe. can I see yon when yon have finished tea? she asked. Mrs. Carruth looked over her shoulder. ^ on and Margaret have made quick work, she re marked. We are not through yet. but a question has come n]) a dispute that we want Miss .Beehe to settle." The latter looked pleased as Althea with a bright nod retired. ".Now, what do yon suppose those girls are U]) to? " she said. " Secrets behind closed doors. MOTHER AND CHILD 263 and I lot into them ! 1 11 warrant it is something about your birthday, Emeline why, of course it is ! It comes next week, and here I Ye let the cat's tail out of the bag' already ! What a shame ! Well, you can be unconscious." kw Oh, I will be unconscious," rejoined Mrs. Carruth, smiling. " I see yoii are perishing to be off, Luella. You need n't wait for me after you have finished. This meal seems to be a mov able feast, anyway." Thus encouraged, Miss Beebe was soon trotting briskly upstairs, full of pleasant interest in the coming interview. In spite of her prognostica tion, she was not without a lurking hope that the subject of it might be Vandyke after all. She had dared to mention him and Mrs. Darling to Margaret. Possibly, if he had arrived, the girl wished to consult her on the matter. Smilingly she knocked at the closed door and entered. At once she caught sight of Margaret's stony face. iw What are you thinking of, Althea (iaylord? " she asked sharply, hurrying to the divan. ' Why did n't you tell us Margaret was ill ? " " Because she did n't wish it known," returned the girl, and Miss Beebe was almost as strangely impressed by her unusual manner as by Mar garet's. The latter sat passive, looking at the newcomer. u What is it, my child, my dear little girl ? " asked Miss Beebe anxiously, her thoughts in a whirl. Had Mrs. Darling doped with Burton \ aiidyke? ^1 on need your mother, my dear ! A shudder passed through Margaret. I sent tor you. she began slowlv, "to tell me aliont both niv father and my niothei'." Miss Luella started, Y\ hat a a question when you remember your father as - as well j^ " Never mind all that." said the girl di'earily. 'Mrs. Darling has told me." .Miss Beebe's heart almost sto])ped beating'. " I see it is hard for you.' went on Margaret. ' It is hard for us all : but 1 did n't want to go without knowing more." 'To some place where people tell the truth, and where they don't know who I am." \\ hv, Margaret ! ' ejaculated Miss Beebe. her face working. (Jo on, please. I understand it is hard in your loyalty to your friend. Child, you'll drive me craxy if you use that cruel tone ! ' Tell her, Miss Beebe ! " commanded Althea. ' How can you prolong the strain? Mrs. Darling has told her that she is not a Carruth. She wants the facts, \\hateyer they are, and the kindest thing for poor Mrs. Carruth is to tell everything quickly." MOTHER AND CHILD 265 Miss Luella trembled so she could scarcely speak. It seemed like a dream, and no reality, that she was face to face with Margaret Carruth, forced to corroborate the words of the base be trayer. " Your father was a carpenter," she said trem ulously. " lie died before you were born." Margaret's mouth looked hard. " How did it O happen that Mr. Carruth consented to bring me up to be a father to me ? " " "Why, he was as pleased as your mother was," protested Miss Beebe tremulously. "Pleased? My mother pleased !" Margaret's eyes were awful, and Miss Luella opened her lips without being able to utter another word. Althea looked from one to the other breath lessly. " Wait ! " she cried. " Is Mrs. Carruth Margaret's mother ? " "Her her" stammered Miss Beebe; these hard-wrung confessions were torture. " Not, of course not really, but " "There, do you hear, darling? Do you hear?" The joyous exclamation enlightened Miss Luella and sent a flame through her. She jumped up with such vigor that her chair fell over. " Is that what that fiend hinted ? " she exclaimed. " Mar garet Carruth, your mother was as good and sweet a woman as lives ! I knew her well ; but she loved her husband too much to stay after him, and she gave her baby to me for my friend. Oh, poor child ! " for slowly Margaret slid down, faint ing, on her couch. "Mrs. Carruth ! I 11 call her," cried Mi>s Luclla. in a panic. \ ou must n t ! Althca sprang to the door and locked it. "Tins is no time for that. Here, help me. Together thev loosened Margaret s habit, chafed her hands, and rubbed cologne on her temples. Althca u'ivinu' directions HI a businesslike way which Miss I>eebe never forgot. Soon the eyes of the fainting girl opened and glanced from one to the other of the faces bending over her. I "m sorry to trouble you." she said: then her look strayed to a window and remained there. The rigidity had gone from her iace. and. pale as it was, A It lieu saw the strange, set despair had gone with it. She beckoned Miss Beebe from the room. Let us leave her a little while, she said. Out in the hall Miss Luella wrung 1 her hands. ' I low am 1 ever going to tell Mrs. Carruth'/ she groaned. "How do you suppose Margaret will meet her? Oh! if ever a woman ought to be hung by the neck until dead, it's Molly Darling! She has murdered the happiness of my poor friend and changed life for that girl, whose little linger is worth her whole trumpery body. ' "\Yhen I think what a shock- it is to me," said Althea, weak after the tension. ' 1 can imagine MOTHER AND CHILD 267 what it must be to Magnet. Why, it will take me months to realize that she is no kin to all those people she has told me so much about. Only yes terday she was telling- me of her relatives and speaking of some of her own hereditary traits. Let me tell you though, Miss Beebe, that Mrs. Darling, without intending it, did Mrs. Carruth a good turn by that wicked slur. In the reaction and relief from that, Magnet will find the actual facts easier to bear.'' ' Althea Gay lord, you 're a real smart girl," returned Miss Beebe, with broken gratitude. " I believe you 're right, and it '11 be a tempering of the wind to poor shorn Emeline. She 'd lose the whole world if she lost that child's love. There ! if it was n't so selfish, I 'd wish myself safe in Spring-dale. I would n't care how sweltering hot it was if I did n't have to face that poor dear and tell her. Do you suppose," wistfully, " you could do it, Althea ? " " Xo indeed ! It would be insulting for me to break such news, with you right in the house." " Yes ; you 're right. You 've got a real good head," said Miss Beebe distractedly. " You tell me when to go, for I don't seem to feel any judg ment about it, somehow." " Let me look," returned the girl, "and see -if Margaret may have fallen asleep. I know she feels exhausted." She stole to the door of the room. Margaret 208 , was still lying on the divan, her eyes ga/ing out at the sunset skv. A subtle reflection of iis brightness was in her face. Altliea marveled at the change and relief that had altered its expres sion : for Margaret had found that the kernel, the meaning, the crown of life was still left to her. -- not lost, as it had seemed in that homeward ride. She was still a girl whose heart might respond to the approaches ot a man of honor, and that con sideration made an abiding place in a world which else was rocking to its foundations, every belief. tradition, and habit of thought having slipped from its place and left her mind a bewildering chaos. She was not Margaret Carruth. She was somebody else : hut she was an honest somebody, and that made the difference between shining hope and black despair. Althea slipped out into the hall again. I think it would be better to tell Mrs. Carruth now." she said to Miss IVebe. 1 'd most as lief take and throw myself right out of the window there. If you only knew how that woman has dreaded this day ! But Miss Luella went downstairs, where she caught sight of her hostess from a window, Mrs. Carruth beckoned to her. "Aon are all missing this glorious sunset! ' she said. "Do come ([nick ! Did you ever see such living crim son ! See those mackerel boats: I've counted thirty troiii left Margaret in liel'ore 1 go t<> her/' 1 don t really know; Imt I do hope thai, as Althea says, things were represented to her so much worse than they really were, that she 11 take the facts easier. .Miss Heche s lips compressed. with sudden resentment. " I wish you 'd let me go with you. Kmeliue. I was so llustered. and she tainted " My poor darling ! " - that I did n't say the things on your side that I might haye. I just stood there trembling, when 1 might haye been representing' your situa tion." ' It is just as well. Margaret will comprehend and grasp everything. .Miss Heche watched her friend's pale and ab stracted countenance with a sort of awe. It was characteristic in Mrs. Carruth that she did not mention Mrs. Darling, nor indulge in one fruit less moan. The upper edge of the sun's crimson disk slipped below the horizon. It 's cold out here, Emeline. Come inside, dear." The sun has gone down on my happy mother- MOTHER AND CHILD 271 hood, Luella. I am going upstairs now to talk with another woman whom I know well, clear- eyed, honest, uncompromising, who will demand of me her old faith in human honesty, and claim her right to govern her life independently of me." " Gratitude gratitude " stammered Miss Luella. "' Yes, she will feel that punctiliously, and she will be considerate. Oh, the wound of that ! " For the first time Mrs. Carruth shuddered and buried her face in her hands. " Do let me come with you, Emeline. You will never tell that girl all she ought to realize." u Xo, Luella," was the firm reply ; and then in the dim light Miss Beebe watched her friend, like a suddenly old woman, toiling up the stairs toward Margaret's room. The door was closed, and Mrs. Carruth opened it. She saw the figure lying on the divan, and, closing the door behind her, advanced toward it and stood still. " Margaret," she began, with gentle abruptness, " no young heart can make you understand the hunger that bade me cheat you with myself into the belief that you were wholly mine. Now my punishment has come, and it is heavy enough for any crime. I am as much your mother as ever. Can you conceive, then, what is lost to me in los ing my child ? " The appealing tones died away. Margaret raised herself from the divan and 2<2 A Gil EAT LOVE stood swaying slightly, supporting herself by a chair as she stood tall in her riding-habit. k - The only relationship that truly binds is left us still," she said tenderly. ' Mother, darling mother! What love yon have shown me ! 1 am your child still. X<> one shall rob us of each other ! " Althea (iaylord. pacing back and forth in the hall, heard an exclamation, then stillness fell. She went to a window. The wind blew in freshly from the sea. and the evening star was shining. BY THE SEA Miss GAYLORD was sitting in her favorite grove, not this time with a book, but out on the water's edge, where the breeze filled her light sleeves. She had probably been sitting there some time, only that no one kept count of time at Cliff Nest, when somebody came across the bridge behind her and dropped down by her side on the rock. " Why, Butterfly ! " she exclaimed. " How hard you lit!" French read his welcome in her start and blush of pleasure. " Oh, how pale you are ! " she went on, as he pressed her hand. " No more so than all the land-lubbers I 've left behind me," he returned. " This is the normal color in Boston, but you 've been saying ' Yo heave- ho ! ' so long, you have forgotten. The sun and wind have certainly got in their work on you. I shall have to sing ' My Love is like a red, red rose,' to you." " You mean, ' My Love, she has a red, red nose,' " returned Althea. " I hope you are going to stay long enough to get one too, you poor lily- white creature." You nii^lit l>e kind and call me a lily-white duck." \\ oiild n t it lie fiui if we were both ducks? When YOU came. I was just wishing I was one of those gulls. Their hat! ling-suits never leak', or look bedraggled when they dip into the waves. Kvery dav I wish I was something' different," he turned toward her companion, smiling; I suppose just because I find it such a lark to he Althea ( iavlord. u Any connection between a guil and a lark?" asked Willard lazily. He had fitted himself into a gully in the rock and was leaning on his elliow. "The gulls seem to find that there is. Thev do have the best sport. Sometimes I decide !> lie a sandpiper. See them down tin-re now, running over the boulders and pebbles ? " I could if I moved, but 1 would ?ft move for a farm 1 mean for a yacht. Pardon the lapse from local color. ' * 1 think I look a good deal like a sandpiper, anyway." declared Althea pensively. " My nose is long and thin, and I 'm a light sort of a thing generally." "Very well, I '11 look at von then. It is less trouble and more satisfaction." k - I d rather you wouldn't. \ o\i 11 grow too envious of my complexion. ik No, 1 have some smoked glasses with me if my eyes aren't equal to the. strain. You are n't BY THE SEA 27O such a light weight as you were, Althea," lie ob served critically after a moment, in which her rud diness had been steadily increasing. u Miss Gaylord, if you please." " No airs, my ward, just because you happen to have been away some time from your natural pro tector." " You never called me Althea, my guardian," scornfully. " You were always far too busy teach ing me to say ' prunes and prisms/ I should n't have allowed it, any way," she added as an after thought. " Is that true ? " he inquired lazily. " Did n't I ? Then I must have been doing it since you left Boston. A man gets into careless habits when he is left to his own devices. It 's a pretty name Althea. Xame of a flower, is n't it? " " Yes ; and no flower of the field could have been lazier than I have been here," she went on, finding his prolonged gaze decidedly embarrassing. " You know I am naturally industrious." "To a fault." w> Well, I 've struck the average now. I don't just know why it is so tempting and easy to do absolutely nothing here." " Nature does n't want to do anything in win ter ; we don't want to do anything in summer," suggested Willarcl. " Ask me a hard one." " That may be it, for I 've decided that it is just because Nature is so busy all around me that A GRKAT LOVE I don't want to do a tiling Imt watch her. What would any little energy of mine amount to in com parison with the things the waves and clouds and winds arc doing all the time? So I just sit under n spell, hour after hour " k< I don't think you sit under anything. It has n't been of any account to shade you, if you have. ** \\ ill vou kindly stop personal remarks, you very citified person ? \\ hero are your golf clothes ? " " In my dress suit-case." ' Don't tell me you are parted from that dress suit ! " " Temporarily. ' Ci No wonder you look pale. \Vho are you vis iting, anyhow ? " tw 117/ow, my child.'' "'Who' isn't slang', and I shall say it all I like." ' l I 'in visiting you." " What house are you staying at, or are you just a tramp ? When did you come ? Have you seen Magnet ? " " I found the house deserted. The maid said this was one of the likeliest places for dear-stalk ing, so here I am." "You have reached Cliff Xest at a very inter esting period,"' said Althea mysteriously. "' AVe are having a honeymoon." n r THE SEA 2 i 7 Willard's eyes, which had grown narrow and sleepy in the vitalized air, opened. " How is that? Guests ? Then I can go over to Mrs. Darling's first." ' Don't mention her ! " ejaculated Miss Gay- lord sharply. "Bless me ! " commented French. " She has done all she could to make trouble, and it is n't her fault that it came to nothing." " What has the lively Molly been up to now ?" " I don't know that I can tell you." " Trouble between Magnet and some one of her admirers ? Honeymoon ? That has nothing to do with Magnet, and her friends uninformed, I should hope." " It is between Magnet and her mother," said Althea gravely. " They passed through a deep ti'ouble caused by Mrs. Darling, and owing to their own good feeling and sense have escaped shipwreck. They are in the reaction of happi ness, having regained each other after the trouble." French raised himself. " You don't mean to say that Mrs. Darling told " he stopped, and Althea had never seen such a look on his face. " Yes, she did ! " The girl nodded emphati cally. " What did she tell? " he asked cautiously. "I wonder if you know," responded Althea with equal caution. " Lots of people do, it seems ; but I didn't." It was that. then, (iivat heavens!' lie made the ejaculation slowlv and thoughtfully, dwelling (in all that innst have passed. --Miss I>eel>e was here ? lie asked after a minute. ^ es. Althea sighed at her memories. And Magnet has come out of it all right '.' " " ^ es. She and her mother L;O to walk and have loii" 1 talks, and are more demonstrative to gether than I Jiave cvei 1 known them." "Amazing! I feared it would kill her if it ever came. Althea gave a little smile down at the sand pipers. She had her own theory about Marga ret s secret helps. Do you ever see Mr. Vandyke?" ^he asked, after they had both sat quiet for a little space. ^ es. occasionally. ^ ou think I ni a lilv- white duck. von ought to see him. lie s a hlv- "white g'liost of himself. The man's working 1 him self to death." "Foolish creature! Why dot's n't he take a vacation ? " " Thinks he can't." ' lie 11 iind he can when lie lias a doctor and a trained nurse taking care of him. Mr. French, yon ou'lit to attend to that." I said all I could." ' AY here there 's a will there 's a way. You should have brought him ; and look here: I want you to tell him what Airs. Darling has done." BY THE SEA 279 " "Why this malice ? " " I think if lie wore n't hound by his promise to visit her, he would like to come here." French smiled. " You think the Magnet works again, do you ? *' ' I do think so, and as I don't know anything' about it, it is n't wrong for me to talk to you about it, is it? " Altlieamet her companion's eyes wistfully. " I lighly commendable, I think. I 'ye had some curious thoughts about this myself." So Althea, with much gusto, again described the scene of parting on the train. u Xow see how he is running down there in that hot city," she went on excitedly, u and here the Princess in the castle may be thinking about him. I believe she is. And he knows there is a tawny tigress wait ing to spring at him if he shows that beautiful straight nose of his here, and you can see any body can see that it is your duty to cut the tigress's claws. One thing I '11 tell you," went on Althea diplomatically, " in the first of Magnet's trouble, when she thought of leaving Cliff Nest, her impulse was to go straight to you." " Bless-her! " said French. " So you can see that Mr. Vandyke, being your friend, if Magnet cares anything for him, you can befriend them both ; and as much as she thinks of you, you ought to do it." u Evidently, then," said French, his hands -ISO A GREAT LOVE clasped behind his head, u I ought to go Lack to the eitv to-night." Why'.'" asked Altliea. and the tone of liev voice, after the t'-nsc and full one she had lieen usin^, suggested that something had happened to deprive her of her breath-support. ' \\ hv. I ought to go and labor with Vandyke." I did n t mean there \vas so much hurrv. 'A man with such a beautiful straight nose deserves consideration." But von can write to him." French smiled out at a distant frothy ledge, lie had come to Cliff Nest on a vovage of discovery, having himseli learned certain surprising facts since Miss (iavlord left Boston. Well. I might try writing. Let me tell vou something though, mv little lady. I prophesy that the Carruths will not ostracize Mrs. Darling, whatever she has done." " Why not?" u Pride, regard for her husband, desire to check gossip. many reasons. A policy which ignores her act will keep her from saying any more, for be sure she is ashamed of herself by this time." \\ hile the two were talking. Miss I>eebe. having reached home from some expedition, came across the bridge. Shade hats were not practical on this coast unless reefed and made fast. Miss Beebe s was confined by strings tied under her chin, and the scoop before and behind decorated with rib- BY THE SEA 281 bon ; that in front was drawn into loops which took a singularly pugilistic attitude above her eye glasses. She mounted the needle-covered knoll before she discovered that Althea was not alone, and then she stood still, gazing through and over her glasses, grimacing variously in her anxiety to discover the identity of the gill's companion. Her first thought and hope was Vandyke. The dreaded crisis of Margaret's life was past. Now if its crown could come, here, in Miss Luella's sight and knowledge, there would be a poetical justice, a fitness, a gratification in the whole situa tion, never to be forgotten. That straw hat and brown suit might belong to anybody. It baffled her. She stole nearer and nearer, and with every step her hope grew, for French in his lolling attitude was a vague figure mingling with the rocks. The sound of the surf deadened any token of Miss Luella's advance among the dry twigs, until she was beside the young people. " Willard French, is that you ? " she exclaimed in her disappointment. " I thought you were Mr. Vandyke." He started to his feet. " I ought to be. I am profoundly aware that I am the wrong man in the right place. Miss Gaylord feels just as you do. Oh, why have n't I a beautiful straight nose ! " " My dear Willard," said Miss Beebe con- tritely, "we're very glad to see you, of course. ^ on kno\v flint. - I don t see why 1 should know it. I never was a good guesser. \\ liv. ni course \ve are! Althea, say some thing! It was only that .Mr. Vandyke talked about coming and --() \Villard. has Altliea told \ on what has happened '.' I'reiicii admitted that she had. and Miss Luella immediately began giving 1 him directions as to circumventing 1 Mrs. Darling, 1 in ln-r nefarious schemes to lie \ andvke's hostess. \ es, ves. I ve heard all that, and \ou're wasting ammunition, tor Vandyke has giun up visiting her." There! You hear, Altliea?" triumphantly. But Miss Luella s elation oozed out on second thought. Supposing, then, that lie telt he could n t come at all! she ended blankly. 'That's just what he feels," said French. and his decision seems so tragical in its effects that I am about to return to the Hub and scud him on at once to tan that classical proboscis of his. while my own broken feature retains its pallor unhonored and unsung, or grows red from other causes." k> Indeed you wont ! It s tea-time, and you come right along to the house and see how pleased the CaiTuths will be to see you.' Miss Beebe managed to draw Altliea behind as they were crossing the narrow bridge. I think BY THE SEA 283 Willard does feel a little hurt," she whispered. ^ You must make of him." Her direction evidently seemed such a definite one to the giver of it that its vagueness made Althea smile. French found himself in the centre of a happy family circle that night. It was good to be in touch with the indefinable sphere of peace and love and confidence that he felt, and he spoke of it to Althea when late in the evening they two took a constitutional around the long piazzas. She assented. ' It is as if they had been on the brink of a great loss," she answered, " as if they had snatched each other back from the grave. They are still in the thankfulness of it." She stood still, because her escort did, at the point in their walk which brought them nearest to the high, powerful tide. " Let us watch it here a minute," he said. She sprang lightly up on the piazza rail, and he leaned beside her against one of the colonial pillars that supported the portico. " I have something to say to you," he began ; and Althea's heart commenced to beat apprehen sively. " No, not now, not yet," she said impulsively. " Why not ? " " Because because everything is so pleasant and I 'in so happy, and really, I have n't the least idea what I 've done." -S4 A GREAT LOVE French watched her in the vague light. \\ hat do you think you 've done ? " -Oh. I su])])ose I said something that jarred, or I did something you did n t Jike. Where igno rance is Miss, 't is folly to l>e wise.' I 'd rather pretend to-night that you think I am perfect." ' Agreed ! \\ e 'U do it. There is only one condition." * Name it ! ' said Althea. in ihe soft drawl, half- laugh, she often used, and which, from consider ing it o!)|ectional)!e, French had come to think the prettiest mannerism on earth. That yon pretend to think that I am perfect too. Oh. who dares doubt that? Mr. Willard French, the glass of fashion and mould of form : the ladies' delight, the leader of germans. the authority on etiquette " Look here ! Don't you represent me to your father like that ! " What has Dad to do with it ? " asked Althea in surprise. ' Why, I am hoping' to have some dealings with him." '"Indeed? How interesting!" The girl's pleased tone changed to one of thoughtful warn ing. kk \ on 'd Letter look out. though. Butterfly. Dad's a a- Oh. how in the world are yon going to say 'hustler' in I>ostonese?" She shook her head portentously. " I 'in afraid your delib- BY THE SEA 285 erate ways would n't stand much chance with Dad." " You are making me extremely uncomfortable," said French. ' I don't suppose you know it. And you 're not keeping your part of the compact, either." " Are you really thinking of coming out West ? " asked Althea, whose thoughts and pulses were bounding. u I tell you, it 's a good place for young men. Lots of chances for positions com pared to the East." " The trouble is witli me, I 'in so fastidious," said French. " There 's only one position I care about getting. Xo other would hold out the slight est inducement." "Is it with Dad?" asked Althea, more and more surprised. " Yes." " Better tell me, then. There are n't many peo ple can do anything with Dad, but I 'm one who can ; and if it is a position where my influence would count for anything, or I could have a word to say " she paused. " You could." " Then I will," said the girl promptly. " There 's my hand on it." French's grasp closed on the small fingers. " This is just what I want," he remarked. " Well, tell the rest. The position is " - " Son-in-law," replied French quietly. " Wha-- what ?" gasped AJthea. ' \\ ill you keep \ ])ossil)le trend of her life li;id thev lived. Her voice would probably have been discovered just the same. She could have earned her living with it. could perhaps have attained fame. \Vhv. then. did not that vista of freedom allure her c\citiii;.';i\ and wistfully'.'' She knew, sitting there ' out on the interminable waste of liri^ht water. Hie knew that it was because in that case she never would have known - 'Magnet!" called Althea. The latter had final.lv been told of her friend'.- guarded retreat, and as -.he never ventured to it except ly invita tion unless in ease of necessity , Murgavel >t.irt d up. 'Some one to see yon.' said the newcomer acro-s t he ledg'O. Who?" I don't know. Sex female, color white, a^r about thirty, size small, no cards/ She said yon did n't know her, so it would n t make anv difference." " It 's an at^'cnt, Althea. Why did n't yon dispose of her ? " ' Oh, no, indeed she is n t ! She s a dainty little tiling, and her gowu is so pretty! I wish you would notice how her jacket is made ; 1 d like to have one just like it. and I. did n't have time to examine. I knew you wouldn't want to see anybodv, but I hadn't the heart to excuse THE ONE QUESTION 291 you. She has come all the way from the hotel in a cab." " Why, it 's just a caller, then." Margaret gathered herself out of her mood of Arcadian dreaming and slipped on the familiar harness of society. " What amazing energy some people have ! " she sighed meekly, with an apologetic smile at Althea for her own inhospitality. The two girls, their arms about each other, moved toward the house. " What have you done with your shadow ? " asked Margaret. " He has gone to get out a boat. We are going rowing. Oh, Magnet ! " with an impulsive hug, " did you ever hear of such a fortunate creature as I ? I wish I had as romantic a home for you to become engaged in. Nothing else would ever pay my debt to you." Margaret smiled. " All places are romantic under certain circumstances," she answered. They reached the piazza and exchanged a look of happy significance, Margaret taking her friend's chin and turning her face up for playful examination. " You 're the dearest thing on earth, Magnet Carruth ! " said Althea, in an access of admira tion for the clear, true eyes and strong, reposeful face. Margaret laughed. " You say that so glibly, I suspect you 've been rehearsing. Good-by. Don't let Willard forget to row, or you will be late to tea." She went into tlic house, and Althea skipped awav, with a last look over her shoulder. In the dee]> embrasure of one of the windows of the living-room sat a small Monde woman, waiting. She was not looking out at the spacious views, nor about her at the graceful, fanciful furnishing of the seashore home. Her eyes were riveted on the door, and when Margaret entered thev fas tened upon her with as eager scrutiny as if life depended on a mastery of the newcomer's face and features. ' Miss Carruth, I suppose?" she said, rising. Margaret assented and advanced. ' Mv name is Sterling. Kdna Sterling :" then as an afterthought, "have you ever heard it?" " I believe not. ' I thought so. I have come a long way to sec you." k - Yes : it is some distance to the hotel." " I have come much further than that. Is there some place where we can be entirely alone ? Margaret regarded her guest in surprise. ".Right here, I think."' '* It it seems so large and open. Margaret began to believe the little woman was astrav in her mind, she had such a strained and yet childlike look about the eyes that scrutinized so eagerly. Jler manner, however, was gentle and refined, her face expressive, and she evidently be lieved herself on an important errand. THE ONE QUESTION 293 " Be quite easy," returned Margaret, " you can say whatever you wish here." She seated herself in the window, and the stranger, with a last look about her surroundings, rather reluctantly took the place beside her. She looked directly into Margaret's eyes for a silent space, then she spoke softly. " I have come all the way from Philadelphia to ask you one question. Do you love Burton Van dyke ? " In her amazement Miss Carruth half rose from her chair, then sank back again, and a deep color dyed her face and throat. " What do you mean by that question ? " she said. The visitor shook her head slowly. " Nothing that need make you angry. Indeed, you should not be angry," she said gently. " It is a question he has never asked me," said Margaret, recovering herself, and certain now that her visitor's reason was unbalanced, possibly through the very emotion she sought to find here. " Of course he has not," was the quiet answer. " I knew that. lie has been engaged to me for five years." The speaker's tone was genuine. Margaret realized it now, and every particle of strength for sook her body as she lay back in her chair. "Yes yes, I was right," said the guest, eye ing her pallor and nodding thoughtfully ; " you do love him. She waited half a minute, during which, 1 hough Margaret essayed to speak, no sound would conic, while her life seemed ebbing away, turtherand further. Ace you going to taint?" asked the stranger. Don't. \\ e have so much to talk over, and things will conn 1 out right for yon." She leaned forward and took one of Margaret's hands. For two months I have been as you arc now. ^ on see I look old to-day, although I am hut twenty-five; out I have arrived at the place now where 1 can act. Fins seemed the iirst tiling to do. K n't it strange what suffering can come to people when nobody is to blame ? Burton and 1 would have l)cen man it-d long ago except that he had relatives to support \\lnle lie was getting started. \\hen he had the position offered him in Boston, we saw the end of our waiting. In the case of every pair they say there is one who loves and one who is loved. I always knew that in our case I was the one who loved: Imt I was satisfied. I think the loving one is the happier? ' She put it as a question, and she regarded her listener with such appealing gentleness, holding her hand all the time between her own two little gloved ones, that Margaret assented with a slight nod. " It was a month after he met yon before I began to suspect from his letters that he was growing to love yon. He did n t know it himself till lonii 1 afterward. He told me all about you in THE ONE QUESTION 295 reply to my questioning 1 when he came home on a visit, and I did not dare tell him what I feared, thinking that perhaps, God willing, I might escape ; but the next time we met, I saw that he had arrived at an understanding of himself. It was on the night of your concert that the crisis came, lie would never have told me, any more than he would you ; hut I made him. I questioned him. Poor Burton ! " The speaker averted her gaze and fell silent. Margaret's faintness had passed, and her thoughts were wonderfully lucid. Her talk with Miss Beebe on the day when she had exploited her theories came back to her. " I don't see why you came to me," she said at last. u Does Mr. Vandyke know that you are here?" "Do you understand him so little?" asked Miss Sterling wonderingly, looking up at her. " I want to ask you this favor," she went on after a silence. " I want to ask you never to tell him I came, but my reason for coming- was plain enough. If you did not love him, then where would be the use of my giving' him up ? " She asked it so simply, with a smile of interrogation, that Margaret was painfully touched. " You are not going to give him up," she replied quickly. The visitor shook her head. " You do not believe that I love him, or you A GRl'.AT LOVE would n't say that. I fought against it at first. I tried to think I needn't, especially as he Oh, Miss Carruth, if yon knew how beautifully and tenderly he talked to me, it would have made yon care more for him than ever." At this point the little woman did drop her head and lift her handkerchief to her eyes. In an instant, however, she smiled, looking up through the bright drops. There are always more tears," she said apologetically, even when one is sure they must all be shed. ' Mr. Vandyke wishes to marry yon. 1 honor him for it." said Margaret. That shows that you are as noble as he is." Miss Sterling regarded Margaret afresh. 1 see you are going to understand, and know that he never dreamed of making you care for him. lie does not believe you do. 1 felt sure you must, and so I came to see before I decided irrevocably. lie says that you are set apart from average- peo ple by your great gift : that you will belong to the whole world : but he he is set apart from aver age people too, by many gifts. Oh, Miss Carruth, I have had live blissfully happy years ! ?Sot every woman can say as much ''. " She looked again with the questioning appeal at Margaret, whose pain was very great as she smiled hack again. Mr. Vandyke is right." she said composedly; t- my lot cannot be one of domestic happiness." " lint there is no other that can fill a woman's THE ONE QUESTION 297 heart." The quick reply met an unspoken pas sionate assent in the soul of the listener. To Margaret, grown old in the last ten minutes, it seemed that her whole life had been a prepara tion for this hour. Why should this little, tender, confiding creature be sacrificed to her ? What O happiness could there be for Vandyke in allowing any cause but death to prevent him from fulfilling his promise to her ? The blue eyes, unconscious of their own pathos, were studying her face, and it was a very gentle and protecting gesture with which Margaret re plied : " Somebody has said that we are nowhere com manded to be happy. I have for years been watching for signs to indicate if it were my mis sion to sing. See this, now, that has come." A quick breath like a sob caught in the other's throat. w ' Don't tempt me ! " she exclaimed. " Help me. Oh, Miss Carruth, you are thinking of me ! Let us think only of Burton." By a spontaneous, mutual movement, her head was suddenly on Margaret's breast and Margaret's arms were around her. " I shall make it easy for him," went on the soft, eager voice. " When he knows that you do care for him, it will all come about naturally." Margaret's eyes, large and dim, looked over the speaker's head, through the window, out upon the sea. Perhaps, after all, I understand him the bet ter." she v;ii(l. I don t know your cireuinstaix es, or what you would ha\v left if yon i^aye him up." I should hasc the knowledge of his happi ness," was the (|iii<-U reply. "If would lie all that I eared for. no matter what else in the world was mine." Then if yon did not ha\e that knowledge, yon would lie poor indeed. " It is. tiie tiling that could Idll inc." l - \ cry well. I am sure his happiness could not lc u'a:ii"d by u'iviiiu' you up." That is because you do not know ho\\ ehcer- ftill\ I will lu'liave '.\iiii him." Mi. Sterling raised herself, the better to look convincin^iv into he!' viyal's face. Margaret smiled at hei 1 with unsteady lips, and presently she spoke : - - \Y hat are your plans '.' k - To _n'o liack to the hotel at Crest View and s])end the niidit. and to-morrow to ^o to Ho^ton and see I>urton." " I think" you would In-tter stay with me for a. while instead. Xo words can tell you. Miss Ster ling, how you surprise me by you) 1 broad and un- sellish treatment of me." w lint nobody was to blame." explained the other simply. That doesn't always make a difference. No. It did n't at lirst with me. I was \er\ THE ONE QUESTION 299 wicked at first. I came out of a battle that was weeks long, to come here. I knew Burton had told me the exact truth, and yet when I saw a little while ago how I shocked you, I knew all at once what a blow this new knowledge was to per haps your whole life 's plan. I could n't have borne to wound you so if I had n't known that you could be comforted again." " I believe you will give up that thought." Margaret spoke now with calmness. " Mr. Van dyke told you of my musical success. The career has always been one of the greatest interest to me." She went on at length, raking over the dead ashes that were left to her, to convince her rival that the sparks of fire which were left were sufficient to kindle again a blaze that would cheer and warm her life. " I have never felt certain that it was right for me to bury my gift. Now God's finger points the way." Miss Sterling listened wistfully, doubtfully. " But we are leaving out Burton. How can we tell without Burton?" she said. " Very well," returned Margaret quietly. " Let us send for him to come here." In a few minutes it was settled ; a messenger was sent to the hotel for Miss Sterling's luggage, and Cliff Nest had another guest. Margaret found her mother in her room, rising from one of those afternoon naps which were restoring that vital force which would help move A GUI'. AT LOVE the world along next winter. u I am lazier than usual to-day ! she said, laughing, as tin- girl came in. " No wonder \ou came to set. 1 v. hat \vas tin- matter. Margaret, what is it ? What lias happened ? ' The speaker, the long 1 hair she had just unloosed falling around her. walked ijuieklv forward to meet her daughter, who laid a hand on each of her shoulders and looked hack into her eyes. "Mother" she began, bravely smiling, l>ut her voice would not serve her. ( ) motlier." she moaned, sinking into the ready arms. the light has gone out ! Mrs. ('arruth held her clo>el\. waiting. \ he danger which had been so long foreseen, the dreaded rock ahead in her life, had been safely passed : then what was this? u Mr. Vandyke!" she murmured after an in stant in the ear so close to her. lie is engaged." said Margaret. The mother's heart beat fast. ' Another mistake, dear ! " she exclaimed. "It must be." No. His fiancee is here." 'Here still? Here now?" asked Mrs. Car- ruth sharply. Don't use that tone." returned the girl bro kenly. ' She is here because I asked her to stay. She is a gentle little child, and of such is the kingdom of heaven." THE ONE QUESTION 301 They sat down together on the edge of the bed, and Margaret told her mother all. " You are going to send for him ! " repeated Mrs. Carriith at last. " My darling, you tax yourself too cruelly." / *-> " It is the only way. Otherwise Miss Ster ling will go to him and tell him that I even if I conld use arguments to convince her that it was better not, she could not help it. She is too transparent, too unselfish. I must do it. When you know her, you will say so too. It is the supreme moment of my life, mother. Xo one can help me but you, and no one could help me as you can.'' " Margaret, are n't you perhaps making a great, great mistake ? I have heard you give your opin ion that a man situated as Mr. Vandyke is now should, in spite of all obstacles, marry the woman he loves." " I know," a spasmodic sob convulsed Mar garet's breast ; " but this sweet girl has given him five years of her life. She loves him absolutely. What happiness could come to any of us from ignoring her rights ? lie feels so, or he would have come to Cliff Nest before this. What might change him would be her representations if I let her see him before I do. He might be convinced. He might not be able to withstand " a dry sob again wrenched the girl's breast and stopped her speech. The two sat in silence for half a minute. Mar garet was first to speak. Mother, there will he a consequence upon this matter that you will have to face. Dear, noble mother, the girl embraced her tenderly, "one sacrifice will he of no avail without the other. Mr. Vandyke believes that I shall sin-. Miss Sterling will marry him. believing that that will fill my life." Her tone broke down Mrs. ('arruths strong self-control. She bowed her head and wept, quietly, "(iod -rant it may. Margaret ! ^ ours is a great love. 1 will not refuse to do my part." CHAPTER XX AT SUNSET MARGARET understood the anxiety it would cause Vandyke should she send him word that Miss Sterling was at Cliff Xest. She therefore merely wrote, asking 1 him to give her a day as soon as opportunity offered, and stating that she needed his advice. lie responded with a telegram, and the follow ing day, at evening, Margaret, sitting alone upon the piazza, saw his cab drive into the grounds. In the minute before it stopped at the steps near her, the girl prayed as she had never in her life prayed, for strength, wisdom, and self-control. The sunset sky, azure still from the day's love liness, was painted with a broad brush in giant swirls of rose and crimson. The vast spaces of heaven above and earth beneath were awe-inspir ing, and Vandyke stood long beside Margaret watching the subtle and grand changes as they fell. " You look as if you needed this," she said at last. " I was glad of a necessity to bring me," he answered. lie still looked at the sea as IK- spoke. The girl had not yet been able to hold his glance. lie. too, had come fortified, and his gravity and dig nity made .Margaret's heart flutter momentarily with doubts. She stilled them with an upward look. His self-control should merely be a prop to her own. not frighten her from her purpose. tv Yon must take in great draughts of in.-pira- tion here. Miss Carrutli. Here are the color, the breadth, one feels in your singing." Margaret looked hack at the opaline ocean. \\ hat rest to be with him again ! \\ hat sym pathy ! For a minute she let herself rest in it. drifting irresponsibly, like the dreaming wave that bathed in purple and rose as it flowed silently toward the beach. Ck I have been hoping that we should see you here of your own accord," she said at la*t. " On the day of our hurried parting on the train, did yon not expect to come?" " No. I had already discovered that I must not attempt it/' " Perhaps it is as well that you did not tell me so. I have had the pleasure of anticipa tion." u You are very kind/' How cold Vandyke's tone sounded to himself! It seemed to him that he was holding down by sheer force of will the slight barrier which was his only safeguard against AT SUNSET .'505 the tumult of feeling that surged in him again at Margaret's actual proximity. '" I must ask you to tell me this evening what it is that has procured for me the honor of your message, for I need to return to Boston at the earliest moment." Margaret's eyes were fixed on him, and she saw his lips tremble. He raised his hand and smoothed his mustache. The maternal instinct that is in every woman's love yearned over him. AVhy should she yield to timidity or dread? It was her part to help him in sore need. The shyness, the passivity of hap pier girls were things she could have no part in. She must turn her back on petty considerations and be strong. " I sent for you," she said, " because Miss Ster ling has visited me." Vandyke's nervous start was evident. His hand dropped, but still he did not turn his face in her direction. " Why did she come ? " he asked, and his voice was hard. " For love of you," answered Margaret. There was an instant's silence. " Miss Carruth," he said at last, " it has sometimes seemed very strange to me that I never spoke of Miss Sterling to you. I had no reason for maintaining silence excepting that I had no right to suppose that you all, who so kindly took in a stranger, would be interested in his connections." I think the fuult WHS largely mine," returned the girl. ^ [ kept my own affairs uppermost when 'we were together." " "i on think it WHS n fault, tlien 7 " lie de manded. " It was a misfortune." Why?" Now WHS Margaret s need for strength. ' It WHS a misfortune for me. It would have changed my thoughts toward you. she returned simply and bravely, to know that von were engaged. .Her implication stole slowly, intoxicatingly into Vandyke's comprehension. Now he turned toward her. and such ecstasy Margaret had never seen in a man s eyes. She perceived that as the suspicion, the fact, mastered him, he was forgetting all else, He breathed her name and took a step forward. k> That is whv Miss Sterling came." she added with, instinctive quickness. " She came to find out what she could best do to make you happy. She is an angel of unselfishness. Vandyke laid a hand on a pillar near him. and his strong frame trembled as realization of the situation returned to him, but his gaze still rested on Margaret. '" She surprised the truth from me," the girl went on, and so 1 knew " the breath left her for a second in the difficulty of her task " I knew I must see you before she did, see you to tell you how I honor you for your decision." AT SUNSET 307 " Can I make her happy ? " he ejaculated. " It is my last question at night and my first each morning." " Yes ; for you will be happy yourself in doing the right." The sun was almost gone, and its last rays showed Margaret's face with the look of exaltation it wore when she sang. " But now that I know what I know " said Vandyke, his breathing labored. The girl smiled straight into his eyes, an in spired certainty in her own, so clear and true. " You are passing through the worst now," she said. " There is one hope of blessedness even in this world : it is in doing right. You have held to it so far with splendid strength that is an in spiration to me. It is going to continue to be an inspiration to me. We shall be able to think of each other without the pursuit of those sweet blue eyes that would if we if we yielded, become the avenging sadness of our lives. Let us both love her and take care of her ; she has been so patient and true. I will go into the world and sing. You will go into the world and work. Do you think there will be no reward for this ? Indeed, indeed there will ! She is here now, ready to forego everything, ready to make us happy in any way she can. When you tell her what is for our real happiness, she will believe you, and she will make such a heaven about you in her gratitude that you will sec what her loss would have been. Hut von knew this before I said it. You had determined on your course. They looked at each other in silence, and some thing, in Ins eves made Margaret continue, slowly, solemnly, as one speaks who takes a vow : ^ on will always be to me what you are now. I >ha!l always look toward yon as 1 look now. even though oceans divide us. His hand on the pillar had slowly lost its rigid grasp. "That must not be. Margaret," he an- s\\ ered. She smiled at him with confident sweetness. k> It will be bcCdi/xc it must be. .-die said simply. And so in many hind.-' a woman, whose presence is a benediction, carries the message Jt has been given her to sing. If it hi 1 a hymn of fatherland that employs her ringing tones, the patriot spirit revives m the most enervated breast. If sacred strains lead up from earth to heaven, the multitude are ready to follow, so true is the force that leads the way. Love songs fly from her heart straight to that of every lover, thrilling with fresh, strong inspira tion toward purer, loftier feeling. Her lullabies! One happy blue-eyed mother goes home from them to shed tears of renewed, unutterable joy over her own darlings, realizing AT SUNSET 6(J\) that slie has heard voiced that universal mother hood which would enfold each tired child of earth. The love that soothes and strengthens, the love that looks up and inspires, that never despairs and always believes, that gift is Margaret's. It has found and brought rest to her pure soul, for " greater love hath no man than this." flmrrsi&c- Press