t all tempted to commit. There were
others, however, connected with horses, races, betting, and gambling,
which tempted him strongly. In fact, Joseph contemplated spending this
money wholly on his own pleasures. Probably it would be a part of his
pleasure to toss a few crumbs to his wife.

It is sad to record that Lotty, finding herself received with so much
enthusiasm, had already begun to fall off in her behavior. Even Clara,
who thought she discovered every hour some new point of resemblance in
the girl to her father, was fain to admit that the "Americanisms" were
much too pronounced for general society.

Her laugh was louder and more frequent; her jests were rough and
common; she used slang words freely; her gestures were extravagant,
and she walked in the streets as if she wished every one to notice
her. It is the walk of the Music-Hall stage, and the trick of it
consists chiefly in giving, so to speak, prominence to the shoulders
and oscillation to the skirts. In fact, she was one of those ladies
who ardently desire that all the world should notice them.

Further, in her conversation, she showed an acquaintance with certain
phases of the English lower life which was astonishing in an American
girl. But Clara had no suspicion--none whatever. One thing the girl
did which pleased her mightily.

She was never tired of hearing about her father, and his way of
looking, standing, walking, folding his hands, and holding himself.
And constantly more and more Clara detected these little tricks in his
daughter. Perhaps she learned them.

"My dear," she said, "to think that I ever thought you unlike your
dear father!"

So that it made her extremely uncomfortable to detect a certain
reserve in Arnold toward the girl, and then a dislike of Arnold in the
girl herself. However, she was accustomed to act by Arnold's advice,
and consented, when he asked her, to arrange so that Arnold might meet
Dr. Washington. As if anything that so much as looked like suspicion
could be thought of for a moment!

But the bell rang, and Arnold, followed by his party, led the way from
the morning room to the drawing room. Dr. Joseph Washington was
standing with his back to the door. The girl was dressed as if she had
just come from a walk, and was holding Clara's hand.

"Yes, madam," he was saying softly, "I return to-morrow to America,
and my wife and my children. I leave our dear girl in the greatest
confidence in your hands. I only ventu