e the
habit of our correspondence lapsed. But you may not know that
two years ago I married again, a widow with four little sons;
and though she has been the best of wives to me, she and my
darling Katharine have not been happy together. Kate is a
passionate, self-willed, but great-hearted child, so full of
romantically generous impulses that I long ago nicknamed her my
'Kitty Quixote.' Her stepmother's nature and temperament are of
quite another mold; and knowing what I have just learned
concerning my own health, I foresee nothing but misery for
these two, should they be left to live together without my
presence.

"So, since my motherless daughter is my most precious
possession and you have been my most devoted friend, I find it
the most natural thing in the world to bequeath my treasure to
my friend. If, for any reason unknown to me, you cannot accept
my legacy I have made other arrangements for Katharine's
future, which you can learn by applying to my lawyers, Messrs.
Brown and Brown, Blank Street, New York.

"My wife knows of this letter, and we have arranged that after
my death, should it occur, Kate is to remain with her for six
months, as a final test of their ability to live happily
together, and for the benefit of the schools in this city. At
the end of that time, if these two well-meaning but uncongenial
people decide that it is wisest to part, 'Kitty Quixote' will
be sent to you, to do with as you see fit. In any case, she
will be no pecuniary charge to any one; her own mother's little
fortune, with such a portion of mine as is justly hers, being
all-sufficient for ordinary needs.

"In loving remembrance of my boyhood, made happy by your care,
and in firm reliance upon your friendship, your troublesome
John bids you farewell."

Katharine had expected to find the sealed letter she had been
commissioned to deliver to Miss Maitland but a complaining missive from
her stepmother, setting forth the girl's faults and failures with that
accuracy of detail so characteristic of the "second Mrs. John." That
lady's handwriting upon the envelope had helped her to this impression,
yet so honest was she that she had not once thought of protesting or
refusing to deliver it. The revulsion of feeling was now so strong that
she could not restrain her tears, nor the impu