d her figure very neatly, and she managed
effects with a bit of ribbon and a cheap feather that might have roused
the envy of many a professional milliner. Now that she had become the
possessor of several cast-off dresses of Jemima's and Jacqueline's, her
pleasure in them was a rather piteous thing to see. As her strength
rapidly returned, under the influence of care and good feeding, she
became absorbed in the task of altering these treasures to fit herself.
For this she showed such aptitude and taste that Jemima spoke to her
mother about it.

"I believe I've found what Mag is meant for--dressmaking."

Kate gave her daughter a delighted hug. "You clever Blossom! What should
I do without you? We'll give Mag a profession. That solves the problem.
Write to town at once for patterns and material, and set her to work.
Teach her all you can, and whatever you do, now that she is getting
strong, _keep her busy_."

Mrs. Kildare was a firm believer in the adage with regard to Satan and
idle hands.

Jemima nodded responsibly. As it happened, this suggestion fitted in
very well with certain schemes of her own. Like all good generals, she
realized that equipment plays a vital part in war; and little as her
mother realized it, the recent "party" was the opening move in a
well-thought-out campaign. Jemima had no idea of passing her entire life
in the role of exiled princess; and since her mother evidently did not
realize certain of the essential duties of motherhood, she intended to
supply deficiencies herself.

So the voice of the sewing-machine began to hum through the old house
like a cheerful bumble-bee, and Mag entered upon what was certainly the
happiest period of her career. Laces, silks, fine muslins--these had the
effect upon her developing soul that a virgin canvas has upon the
painter. Her fingers wrought with them eagerly, deftly, achieving
results which astonished Jemima, herself a dressmaker of parts. Her
attitude toward Mag lost something of its cool patronage. She had always
great respect for ability.

It was perhaps her absorption in Mag's efforts and the approaching
campaign which blinded her keen young eyes to certain changes which had
taken place in her mother. She did notice that she spent more time than
usual in the juniper-tree eyrie; and one night when the three sat as
usual in the great hall, busy with books and sewing, she suddenly
realised that her mother had been reading for an hour without once
tu