-and-span, but no observant eyes could fail to notice
the change in Jean herself. She was older, graver, less ready to
sparkle with mischievous gaiety. She had hidden her trouble out of
sight, as years before she had hidden the baby clothes destined for the
little dead son, but it had left its mark. With the best will in the
world she could not change her nature, and her artistic sensibilities
met a fresh wound every time she walked up and down stairs, every time
she entered a room, every time she walked down the dull suburban street.
She was in the wrong environment, and her beauty-loving nature was
starved and hungry.

Robert was happily unconscious of the change, or if he noticed it was
content to ascribe it to a more obvious reason. He himself was ready to
welcome his fourth child with an ardour undamped by considerations of
money. He adored children, and was delighted that the three-year-old
Joyce should have a successor; but Jean's satisfaction was dependent on
a possibility--"If it is a boy!" A live son would compensate a hundred
times over for the added strain and burden involved by the addition to
the nursery. But the son was not forthcoming, and when a third little
daughter was put into her arms Jean shed weak tears of disappointment.

"She's the prettiest of all your babies, Jean," Vanna declared a week
later as she nursed the little flannel bundle on her arm, and gazed down
at the small downy head. "She has just your eyes."

"All babies' eyes are the same."

"This baby's aren't; and she has the daintiest little head! Lorna's
head was ugly at this stage. And her nose! Her nose is perfect."

"Is it?" The voice from the bed was so listless and faint that Vanna
held up the little face, insisting upon notice.

"Look at her! Look for yourself. Acknowledge that she is a duck!"

Jean's lip quivered.

"I wanted a boy, a little son to make up... It seems so hard--"

Vanna pressed the downy head to her heart.

"Poor little superfluous woman! You are not wanted, it seems. Give her
to me, Jean--she'd be worth the whole world. I mean it, you know! Say
the word and I'll take her home this moment, and adopt her for life."

But at this Jean opened wide, protesting eyes.

"As if I would! My own little child! She _isn't_ superfluous. I shall
adore her as much as the others, but just at first it _is_ a
disappointment. But I'll call her after you this time, Vanna, say what
you will, and you sh