or the present. Were the truth known, my
life would be unbearable. It is all I can do to keep the true state of
affairs from coming to papa's ears, and he has enough to bear without
family troubles being put upon him."

"My dear little girl, do you think I am going to let you stay here and be
at the beck and call of everyone? Let me claim you at once; that will be
the best way to settle the difficulty, and your father would say the same
if he knew about it."

"But he must not know it, Guy; think how unhappy it would make him. It
would never do, dear; but I have a good mind to write and ask Louie to come
home. Surely aunt would let her come for a few weeks. I have written to her
about it before, but she would not let her come unless she was positively
needed, and I do think she is now. She must be quite a young lady by this
time, and would be such a help and comfort. I believe I will write and ask
her again."

That night, while Dexie sat up with her father, the letter was written, and
Guy dropped it in the letter-box on his way home, and in less than a week,
to Dexie's great joy, Louie came rushing into the house, as fresh and
strong as any little country lassie.

Her coming did, indeed, make a great difference in the house, as Dexie
expected. She brought such a new atmosphere into it with her quick,
outspoken criticisms, that she worked quite a revolution.

Then she had so much that was new to tell them all, and it was told in such
a breezy way, that her father brightened up as he listened. Her aunt had
not sent her empty-handed either, for she had a loving and tender heart
under a rather harsh exterior, the cold looks with which all sentiment was
frowned down seemed but the rough, hard shell which covered a noble and
generous disposition. But this rather severe aunt had refused Louie
permission to make many visits at her father's home, on account of the
displeasure with which she regarded her mother. She had never been pleased
at her brother's marriage, and when Louie had been given over to her care
she determined to cut off all connection with the mother's influence.
Dexie's letter had revealed more than she was aware to the keen,
sharp-sighted woman, and Louie was sent to help wait on her father, with
many admonitions as to her conduct at home. She was given a "month's leave
of absence," as Louie laughingly expressed it, but when alone with Dexie
she admitted that her aunt would extend the time if her father shou