s, that they leave for
some parts unknown; but she also felt that he must know best what he
could do. His increasing troubles depressed her.

Mrs. Calligan was alone when she arrived and was delighted to see her.
After exchanging the gossip of the day, and not knowing quite how to
proceed in connection with the errand which had brought her, she went to
the piano and played a melancholy air.

"Sure, it's lovely the way you play, Aileen," observed Mrs. Calligan who
was unduly sentimental herself. "I love to hear you. I wish you'd come
oftener to see us. You're so rarely here nowadays."

"Oh, I've been so busy, Mrs. Calligan," replied Aileen. "I've had so
much to do this fall, I just couldn't. They wanted me to go to Europe;
but I didn't care to. Oh, dear!" she sighed, and in her playing swept
off with a movement of sad, romantic significance. The door opened and
Mamie came in. Her commonplace face brightened at the sight of Aileen.

"Well, Aileen Butler!" she exclaimed. "Where did you come from? Where
have you been keeping yourself so long?"

Aileen rose to exchange kisses. "Oh, I've been very busy, Mamie. I've
just been telling your mother. How are you, anyway? How are you getting
along in your work?"

Mamie recounted at once some school difficulties which were puzzling
her--the growing size of classes and the amount of work expected. While
Mrs. Calligan was setting the table Mamie went to her room and Aileen
followed her.

As she stood before her mirror arranging her hair Aileen looked at her
meditatively.

"What's the matter with you, Aileen, to-day?" Mamie asked. "You look
so--" She stopped to give her a second glance.

"How do I look?" asked Aileen.

"Well, as if you were uncertain or troubled about something. I never saw
you look that way before. What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing," replied Aileen. "I was just thinking." She went to one of
the windows which looked into the little yard, meditating on whether she
could endure living here for any length of time. The house was so small,
the furnishings so very simple.

"There is something the matter with you to-day, Aileen," observed Mamie,
coming over to her and looking in her face. "You're not like yourself at
all."

"I've got something on my mind," replied Aileen--"something that's
worrying me. I don't know just what to do--that's what's the matter."

"Well, whatever can it be?" commented Mamie. "I never saw you act this
way before. Can't you tell me