ated her so harshly, was
powerless to hurt them now. It was an attitude of mind that is apt to be
rather tempting to the gods....

Jacqueline entered into her new role with touching eagerness. Somewhat
to his surprise, Philip found her quite invaluable in his parochial
work. She took much of the visiting off his hands, held Mothers'
Meetings and Bible classes; taught Sunday-school; busied her
unaccustomed needle quite happily with altar-cloths and vestments, and
even more happily with socks and buttons. She discussed housekeeping
matters very seriously with her mother and Jemima, more seriously than
she practised them, perhaps, for Ella, trained by the Madam, had taken
her two "young folks" into her protection with a capable thoroughness
that is the acme of good African service, and proceeded to create such
an atmosphere of comfort in the rectory as Philip had not thought
possible.

He had always found his little home a pleasant place to come to; but now
it was more than pleasant, with Jacqueline's eager face watching for him
at the window, or her beautiful voice mingling in the twilight with the
tinkling notes of his old piano. The punching-bag and other purely
masculine paraphernalia had been banished to his own room, and the
living-room, alas! had lost its aspect of meticulous neatness. But when
Philip found a darning-basket spilled into his usual chair, or a
riding-glove of Jacqueline's lying among the scattered sheets of his
half-finished sermon, he did not frown. He told himself he would get
used to it presently. In fact, he rather liked it. And he decidedly
liked her funny little maternal airs with his clothes, and his health
(which was excellent), and his finances (which were not).

Mrs. Kildare had insisted upon continuing Jacqueline's usual allowance
until her coming of age; and Philip had felt it not quite fair to the
girl herself to refuse; but Jacqueline knew better than to use the
smallest part of that allowance toward expenses which Philip might
consider his. So she consulted anxiously with her mother on the cost of
food-supply, and was very firm with Ella in the matter of flour and
eggs; somewhat to the amusement of both older women.

Others besides Philip realized the charm of that picturesque cabin with
its young and hospitable mistress. Farwell was a faithful visitor, and
even some of the "victims" respectfully renewed their allegiance, to
Jacqueline's frank pleasure. The Thorpes came out from tow