n that she thought Aldred much improved, and, as some of the chief
causes of friction had now vanished, she was ready to forget old
grievances, declare a truce, and try to make the holidays pass as
smoothly as possible. She no longer ordered Aldred about as if she were
a child in the nursery, and would even consult her wishes, or allow her
to express an opinion of her own, realizing that the girl was rapidly
growing up, and could not be expected to remain for ever in the
background. This altered state of affairs was very much to Aldred's
mind. She had always felt that her aunt had not treated her fairly, and
it was partly the continual sense of injustice that had caused her
rebellious attitude.

"I'll do anything for Aunt Bertha now she asks me nicely," she thought
to herself. "It was when she used to speak so absolutely autocratically
that she made me feel so angry. I'll fetch her what she likes, if she'll
say 'Please', and 'Thank you'; but I can't bear to be sent trotting as
if I were a baby of three."

If only Aunt Bertha had known this, and had taken poor Aldred by the
"right handle" sooner, a very great deal of trouble could have been
saved; but she was one of those complacently tactless people who try to
impress the stamp of their own dominant personalities upon everyone
alike, and who rule with an utter absence of sympathy. She had not
understood Aldred's character, and had concluded, therefore, that there
was nothing to understand. She was agreeably surprised now to discover
the various pleasant qualities that had begun to develop under Miss
Drummond's genial influence, and admitted, almost in spite of herself,
that her troublesome niece was turning into quite a nice companion, and
that her society could actually be an enjoyment as well as a care.

Keith also appeared to consider his sister a far more reasonable and
sensible person since her return from the Grange. He was never very
expansive, but he gave her more of his confidence than before, talked to
her of his own school life, and seemed ready to spend the greater part
of his time with her. It had always been Aldred's ambition to have
Keith as her special property, but he had not been altogether willing to
devote himself to her, and had often hurt her by his coolness. Now that
they were both in a sense visitors at home, Aunt Bertha arranged plans
that would include the pair, sending them together to visit picture
galleries and museums, and other interesti