but somehow her voice was not quite under her control,
and her hand was a little unsteady. "Oh, yes, her mother and Crystal
were right; these foolish dreams of hers could never come true; she
would have to see her prince ride away some day in quest of some
dark-haired princess. And yet, in the fairy stories, the real princess
was often poor, and wore a shabby dress, and had golden hair, and--"
but here Fern banished these thoughts resolutely, and came back to her
footstool a little pale and drooping.

Mrs. Trafford's keen eyes noted everything, but she wisely forebore to
continue the subject. Fern was so docile and humble, she thought so
little of herself, that her mother hoped that her words would take
effect. She had already given her son a hint that his friend's visits
were rather too frequent; she must speak to him seriously on the
subject, and appeal to his love for his sister.

She changed the subject now by asking Fern what was the matter with
Crystal.

"Percy has been speaking to her again, mother; he went to meet her,
when she was coming back from the Nortons', and Crystal is very, very
angry with him."

Mrs. Trafford's face darkened--she looked exceedingly displeased. Was
this how Percy protected his sister? leaving her alone with Erle
Huntingdon while he carried out his own selfish purposes. This was
worse than she had imagined; but Fern misunderstood the reason of her
mother's vexation.

"It is very wrong of Percy to worry Crystal in this way, but, poor
boy, I do believe he is honestly in love with her. I do wish she would
care for him, it would make him so different."

"Crystal will never care for any one; at least"--checking herself as
though she had stated a fact erroneously--"she will never care for
Percy. I have told him so, and begged him not to persecute her with
his attentions, as, if he persisted, she had made up her mind to seek
another home. Percy was dreadfully angry when I told him this, and
refused to believe me; and then he turned round on me, and accused me
of want of prudence in taking a stranger under our roof, and asked me
how I knew that she was a fit companion for his sister?"

"As though Crystal were not the dearest and best in the world,"
returned Fern, indignantly. "Never mind, mother, he only wanted to
make you uncomfortable. He is too fond of Crystal to doubt her for a
moment. I hope you told him that you were acquainted with her whole
history?"

"Yes; and I informed him