Aunt Eunice was not in her own adjoining
room, Katharine awoke to find another beautiful day gladdening the world
and herself as well. Who could be unhappy with such sunlight shining
through such golden maples, underneath a sky so blue?

"Every day is a fresh beginning,
Every morn is the world made new,"

sang the girl, springing from bed and running to her bath; a daily habit
which surprised and pleased both Miss Maitland and the housekeeper,
accustomed as they were to the rebellion of young Marsdenites to even a
weekly tubbing. A habit which had done much to win Eunice's favor toward
the "second Mrs. John," and between whom and herself now existed a
friendly and frequent correspondence. "She is a good woman, intensely
practical; and Katharine is a good child, intensely romantic; and not
all good people may live comfortably together. But there is no 'cruel
stepmother' in her, and I mean to invite her and the little Snowballs
out to visit us next summer. It shall not be my fault if there does not
yet grow the closest affection between Johnny's chosen wife and Johnny's
daughter," had remarked the mistress of The Maples, some time before.

To which Susanna had pertinently replied:

"Well, next summer ain't tetched yet, an' we may all be in our graves
before that time."

"Very true, my friend, though I don't expect to be in mine," answered
Eunice, cheerfully, and wisely changed the subject, though not her
intention.

Not only had Katharine forgotten her unhappiness of the night before,
but Susanna had also rested and recovered her good nature. She felt that
it would never do for an old lady like herself to apologize to a child
for the hard words spoken "in the way of discipline," but now that she
had had time to think it over she did not see how Katy had been so
greatly to blame. Besides, she was just wild to ask questions concerning
the tramp, and privately looked upon the little girl as a very heroine
for bravery, in that she had neither fainted nor been greatly afraid
during her interview with the wanderer.

Katy had been given a bread and milk supper and sent to her room,
feeling herself in disgrace. She had not even been allowed to visit
Moses and offer her apologies for her rudeness to him; so that if it had
not been a wholly "black" Saturday, it had been a very dark Saturday
evening.

But Saturday was past, a beautiful Lord's Day was blessing His earth,
and it was not for His children to keep of