one, then
I should cry out, 'Wicked parents! if I grow up heartless, because I
have no one to love me; and vile, because I have none to guide me,--my
sin be upon your head!'"

She said these words with vehement passion. But Olive answered calmy,
"Hush, Christal!--let me call you Christal; for I am much older than
you. Lie down and rest. Be loving, and you will never want for love; be
humble, and you will never want for guiding. You have good friends here,
who will care for you very much, I doubt not. Be content, my poor, tired
child!"

She spoke very softly; for the darkness quite obliterated the vision
of that stylish damsel who had exhibited her airs and graces in the
drawing-room. As she sat by Christal's bedside, Olive only felt the
presence of a desolate orphan.

She said in her heart, "Please God, I will do her all the good that
lies in my feeble power. Who knows but that, in some way or other, I may
comfort and help this child!" So she stooped down and kissed Christal
on the forehead, a tenderness that the girl passionately returned. Then
Olive went and lay down by her blind mother's side, with a quiet and a
happy heart.

CHAPTER XXV.

In a week's time Christal Manners was fairly domiciled at Woodford
Cottage. In what capacity it would be hard to say--certainly not as Miss
Vanbrugh's _protegee_--for she assumed toward the little old maid a most
benignant air of superiority. Mr. Vanbrugh she privately christened "the
old Ogre," and kept as much out of his way as possible. This was not
difficult, for the artist was too much wrapped up in himself to meddle
with any domestic affairs. He seemed to be under some mystification that
the lively French girl was a guest of Miss Rothesay's, and his sister
ventured not to break this delusion. Christal's surname created no
suspicions; the very name of his former model, Celia Manners, had long
since passed from his memory.

So the young visitor made herself quite at home--amused the whole
household with her vivacity, clinging especially to the Rothesay portion
of the establishment. She served Olive as general assistant in her
studio, model included--or, at least, as lay figure: for she was too
strictly fashionable to be graceful in form, and not quite beautiful
enough in face to attract an artist's notice. But she did very well;
and she amused Mrs. Rothesay all the while with her gay French songs, so
that Olive was glad to have her near.

The day after Christal'