only silence and sock-darning. Laurence
Thorndyke reclining on his lounge, even his efforts at conversation
falling flat, saw and understood it all perfectly. By Gilbert's order
the ewe lamb was to be guarded from the wolf. And his spirit rose with
the resistance.

"Guard her as you like," he said inwardly,--"watch her as you will, I'll
baffle the whole of you yet. If I cared nothing for the girl, and I
don't care much, I would still conquer you here, if only for the
pleasure of paying off Richard Gilbert. Meddling old prig! There was
that affair of Lucy West, he had to bring that to light, and old Darcy
was within an ace of disinheriting me. He wants to marry this little
black-eyed, sentimental French girl himself--more fool he--and it shall
be my pleasant and profitable occupation to nip that middle-aged romance
in the bud. I flatter myself I am rather more than a match for Aunt
Hetty."

But Mr. Thorndyke was yet to learn whether he was or no. At no time,
well or ill, was this elegant young doctor addicted to the vice of
early-rising. It was mostly noon when, half-carried in the strong arms
of Uncle Reuben and Joe, he reached the parlor.

Norine, however, was up with the lark--that is to say there were no
larks in December, but with the striking six of the kitchen clock. On
the morning following the stocking darning, as the family assembled
together for their seven o'clock breakfast, Uncle Reuben said:

"Norry, I'm a going to give you a treat to-day--something you've been
wanting this long time."

Norine opened her black eyes, and held the portion of buckwheat cake on
her fork, suspended in space.

"A treat! Something I've been wanting this long time! You darling old
dear, what is it?"

"Don't ask me, it's a secret, it's to be a surprise. Have you finished
breakfast? Wal, run and put on the best duds you've got, while I go
round and gear up Kitty."

"Kitty! Then we're going somewhere. Now Uncle Reuben----"

"It ain't a mite o' use, Norry, I ain't agoin' to tell. Be off and clap
on your Sunday fixins, while I get around the cutter."

"You're going to take me to the city and buy me some thing--a silk
dress, perhaps. Oh, uncle! what a dear old love you are! I'll be ready
in ten minutes."

Uncle Reuben's heart smote him a little as he received Norine's
rapturous kiss, but there was no drawing back. He left the house, while
Miss Bourdon flew off singing like a skylark, to make her toilet. A new
silk--yes, t