ly. There was nothing to hurry
for. Her mother's voice came in detached sentences and questions from
the next room.

"Dear me, this rain is too trying, Eloise! Didn't you have some
engagement with Dr. Ballard to-day?"

"He thought he could get off for some golf this afternoon."

"What a disappointment for the dear fellow," feelingly. "He has so
little time to himself!"

Eloise gave a most unsympathetic laugh. "More than he wishes he had, I
fancy," she returned.

She came finally in her white negligee into her mother's room. Mrs.
Evringham was still in bed. Her eyeglasses were on and she regarded her
daughter critically as she came in sight. She had begun to look upon her
as mistress of the fine old Ballard place on Mountain Avenue, and
the setting was very much to her mind. The girl sauntered over to the
window, and taking a low seat, leaned her head against the woodwork,
embowered in the lace curtains.

"How it does come down!" said Mrs. Evringham fretfully. "And I lack
just a little of that lace braid, or I could finish your yoke. I suppose
Forbes would think it was a dreadful thing if I asked her to let Zeke
get it for me."

"Don't ask anything," returned Eloise.

"When you are in your own home!" sighed Mrs. Evringham.

"Don't, mother. It's indecent!"

"If you would only reassure me, my child, so I wouldn't have to undergo
such moments of anxiety as I do."

"Oh, you have no mercy!" exclaimed the girl; and when she used that tone
her mother usually became tearful. She did now.

"You act as if you weren't a perfect treasure, Eloise--as if I didn't
consider you a treasure for a prince of the realm!"

A knock at the door heralded Sarah's arrival for the tray, and Mrs.
Evringham hastily wiped her eyes.

"Yes, you can take the things," she said as the maid approached. "I
can't tip you as I should, Sarah. I'm going to get you something pretty
the next time I go to New York."

Sarah had heard this before.

"And if you know of any one going to the village this morning, I want a
piece of lace braid. Have you heard how Miss Julia is?"

"She was down at breakfast, ma'am, and Mr. Evringham had her out to the
stable to see Essex Maid."

"He did? In the rain? How very imprudent!"

After Sarah had departed with her burden, Mrs. Evringham took off her
eyeglasses.

"There, Eloise, you heard that? It's just as I thought. He is taking a
fancy to her."

The girl smiled without turning her head. "Oh no, that w