for him herself. He had taken an occasion, and he had conquered her.

When she pleased him he dimpled and gave her, on appeal, an
ostentatious kiss, composed wholly of noise and vanity. When she first
displeased him he had tried conclusions with her by unhesitatingly
administering a slap on the face.

Mrs. Garrison, the select and haughty, tingling from this direct Basin
blow, watched the flame die out of the baby's eyes, in astonishment,
not in anger. The blow felt good to her. Vesty treated her, though
unconsciously, from such a height.

"My darling," she said sorrowfully, lifting the child in her arms,
"would you hurt me, when I love you so?"

A bit of sugar sealed the reconciliation: while he devoured it little
Gurdon leaned his head in tender remorse upon Mrs. Garrison's neck.
She had handsome eyes--for him, full only of love and longing--and he
saw strange tears in them. He never treated her again to corporeal
punishment; while she, on her part, indulged him fully.

The attachment was so marked between them that he would, when he was
well and had dined, very cheerfully leave Vesty for her society, to
Vesty's secret chagrin and Mrs. Garrison's beating heart of joy.

"Do you mean to say that you will take the child back again--back to
that squalid home--yes, for such it is, Vesty--that you will deprive
him of all that might be, and give him up to a fisherman's wretched
life and dreary fate?"

"Will you make a better man of him in the world than his father was?"
said Vesty simply.

"You know that I worship Gurdon Rafe's memory," cried Mrs. Garrison,
with adroit heat. "What do you think would please him best for his
wife and child--misery and cold with an old man who could have a better
home among his own kin, had he not to make the effort to support
you--or happiness and warmth and love, and a great sphere of
usefulness, happiness, and education for his child?"

"You see," said Vesty, on the plain Basin path, "in trying to get those
things we might miss the only--the greatest--thing, that Gurdon had.
I'd rather my boy should learn to have that, and miss all the others."

"O my dear! you shall teach your child, you shall be always with him.
I have some things to remember and regret, Vesty. I promise you
solemnly--and I do not break my word--I will not interfere. You shall
teach and guide your child as you will."

Notely was awake and calling.

"Go to him," said Mrs. Garrison, excitement in her