e sofa for days to come, and the girl's only comfort lay in the thought that now, of course, the governess would not force the question of

under the strain of Nan's sullen tempers, fierce outbreaks, and lazy moods. There were moments when the girl seemed to be fairly tractable, but there was no knowing when the whim would seize her to fall back into her old ways, so that, at the best of times, Miss Blake did not dare relax her control. Then Nan would kick her heels sulkily, and comfort herself with the thought that when her father came home all this would be put an end to. Mis

ave believed that they could be so interesting. While as for Miss Blake-Well, a woman who sits reading "Tre

ons were over. "I used to hate it, but now, why it's downright jolly! I neve

them m

ou been to all these places?" sh

e confess

photographs your own s

ashington, Nan," she said. "I cannot tell

but she knew Miss Blake disapproved of "Jiminy!"

camera indeed. Some day, if you like, I will show it to you, and then, perhaps you

th delight. "Oh, won't I, though!" she

ist. It is not to be any 'You-press-the-button-and-we-do-the-rest' affair. I want you to

ed energ

ands. If you are willing t

u?" asked the

ent into a gallery and got some experience, and then came away and experimented on my own account. It has taken me years

fied with whatever came easiest, unless it was i

a governess, or a companion, or something, just as you are, and get a place with some awfully nice people who wi

but Delia and me. Mr. Turner says he has lost a lot of money lately, too. I guess that's why he went to India. If I had been older he would have taken me. But he had to leave me here with Delia. Delia has been in our family, for, oh, ever so many years. She first came to live here when my mother was a young girl. She says it was the jolliest house you ever saw. My grandfather and grandmother were alive then, and mamma had a young friend, who was an orphan, who lived with them. They loved her just as if she had been their own child, and she and my mother were so fond of each ot

er home with this girl and she had money and your mother had not, I think it was o

I think it was and so does

ly. "But when one has little and one gives that-well, then it is hard and then perha

oman she had been brought up to think was one of the noblest beings on earth. She felt angry and hurt and

at, and then-well, my grandmother died and then my grandfather, and I was born and my mother died and-O dear me! it was dreadful. Delia says many and many a time she has gone down on her knees and just prayed that that girl would come back, but s

a wanted her back she must at least have tried to be good. And even tryin

ant to hear about her. "All the time I was talking she fidgeted around and looked too unhappy for anything. I guess she needn't think she's the only one in the world that can

, and after they had finished Miss Blake excuse

needs a change," she said, "and it would be a

e, with this old troublesome ankle bothering her. If she could not step across t

uld hear her singing as she went. Delia was up th

. "Now, I wonder what she wants in my room. I don't thank either of them for going poking

was so overladen with wraps and rugs. She turned the whole assortment into a chair, and before

e gasped out at length.

, sir!" quoted th

you putting on

sang out Miss Bl

another moment she was being borne down the outer steps and set comfortably in a ca

Blake, with her foot on the step

ce beside her, motioned to Michael, who climb

wave to her!" cried Miss Blake, with

ear against the blue of the violet-clouded sky and by the lake-shore the pollard willows were gray and misty, and a few russet maple trees still held their leaves against the

out her hand and lai

'd be on your wheel now,

it is I'm not on my wheel, and it so happens that I

imply furious to have to give up a

en't one?" asked Miss Blake, saucily. "

father can't afford i

faced about again Nan could see that her chin was quivering, and in a spirit of tender thoughtfulness quite

she said. "That is, most of the girls come

ed at it and asked

me; they don't like me much, and I'd rather not go where they are. John Gardiner and some other

t was going on about her when Nan gave a great sigh to indicate that she was tired of waiting to be ente

u think of going down-town and buying some jelly or something for little Ruth Newt

ready beginning to take on a look of holiday gorgeousness. So down-town they went, and Miss Blake not alone bought the jelly, but so many

together that evening, Miss Blake hav

needn't worry,"

here's something mysterious about her, anyway. She seems to see right into your mind-what you're thinking about; and every once in a while she lets out a hint that the next minute she looks as if

woman that's trying to do her duty as far as I can make out, and if