g her hand on Gwendolen's. "And Jocosa
really makes so little do for housekeeping--it is quite wonderful."

"Oh, please let me go up-stairs with you and arrange my hat, mamma,"
said Gwendolen, suddenly putting up her hand to her hair and perhaps
creating a desired disarrangement. Her heart was swelling, and she was
ready to cry. Her mother _must_ have been worse off, if it had not been
for Grandcourt. "I suppose I shall never see all this again," said
Gwendolen, looking round her, as they entered the black and yellow
bedroom, and then throwing herself into a chair in front of the glass
with a little groan as of bodily fatigue. In the resolve not to cry she
had become very pale.

"You are not well, dear?" said Mrs. Davilow.

"No; that chocolate has made me sick," said Gwendolen, putting up her
hand to be taken.

"I should be allowed to come to you if you were ill, darling," said
Mrs. Davilow, rather timidly, as she pressed the hand to her bosom.
Something had made her sure today that her child loved her--needed her
as much as ever.

"Oh, yes," said Gwendolen, leaning her head against her mother, though
speaking as lightly as she could. "But you know I never am ill. I am as
strong as possible; and you must not take to fretting about me, but
make yourself as happy as you can with the girls. They are better
children to you than I have been, you know." She turned up her face
with a smile.

"You have always been good, my darling. I remember nothing else."

"Why, what did I ever do that was good to you, except marry Mr.
Grandcourt?" said Gwendolen, starting up with a desperate resolve to be
playful, and keep no more on the perilous edge of agitation. "And I
should not have done that unless it had pleased myself." She tossed up
her chin, and reached her hat.

"God forbid, child! I would not have had you marry for my sake. Your
happiness by itself is half mine."

"Very well," said Gwendolen, arranging her hat fastidiously, "then you
will please to consider that you are half happy, which is more than I
am used to seeing you." With the last words she again turned with her
old playful smile to her mother. "Now I am ready; but oh, mamma, Mr.
Grandcourt gives me a quantity of money, and expects me to spend it,
and I can't spend it; and you know I can't bear charity children and
all that; and here are thirty pounds. I wish the girls would spend it
for me on little things for themselves when you go to the new house.
Tell th