nd ways she had worked, she had striven,
that he might find her improved when he came home, less
ignorant, less unworthy, than the little girl he had parted
with. His return had been the one point to which all her hopes
had been directed; and, poor child, with a little unconscious
egotism, she took it for granted that just then she occupied
almost as large a share in Graham's mind as he did in hers. He
had always been so good, so kind to her, he must surely be
glad to see her again, almost as glad as she was to see him.
She, on her side, was ready to go on just where they had left
off; and yet now, when for the first time they were alone
together, a sort of shyness had taken possession of her.

She was the first to break the silence, however. "Why do you
look at me so?" she said, setting her tea-cup down, and
turning to Horace with a sudden smile and blush.

"I am trying to adjust my ideas," he answered, smiling too; "I
am trying to reconcile the little Madelon I used to know with
this grand young lady I have found here."

"Ah, you will never see that little Madelon again," said the
girl, shaking her head rather sorrowfully; "she is gone for
ever."

"How is that?" said Graham. "You have grown tall, you wear
long gowns, and plait up your hair, I see; but is that a
reason----"

"Ah, how can one survive one's old life?" said Madelon,
plaintively; "one ought not, ought one? All is so changed with
me, things are so different, the old days are so utterly gone--
I try not to think of them any more; that is the best; and my
old self is gone with them, I sometimes think--and that is best
too."

She sat leaning forward, staring at the dull red coals; and
Graham was silent for a moment.

"Then you have forgotten the old days altogether?" he said at
last.

"I never speak of them," she answered slowly; "no, I have not
forgotten--it is not in me to forget, I think--but I do not
speak of them; of what use? It is like a dream now, that old
time, and no one cares for one's dreams but oneself."

"Am I part of the dream too, Madelon? For I think I belong
more to that old time you talk about, which is not so very
remote, after all, than to the present. I had a little friend
Madelon once, but I feel quite a stranger with this
fashionable Miss Linders before me."

"You are laughing at me," said Madelon, opening her eyes wide.
"I am not at all fashionable, I think. I don't know what you
mean; what should make you think such