arbara should be so unlike her dear, dear grandma.

Marcus kept steadily on at his work, but Hatty did not feel satisfied
about it until she had asked her mother if there was really any harm in
what they were doing. After Mrs. Lee had given them free permission to
go on, the morning passed pleasantly away in watching Marcus, and she
was quite surprised when the dinner bell rang.

"O dear!" said Hatty, "we shall have hardly time to put ourselves in
order for the table."

Although Marcus knew that it was his mother's express wish that he
should never come to the table without looking neat and tidy, he paid
little regard to his personal appearance; but there was something in
the eager way in which Hatty hastened to brush the hair she had been too
much inclined to neglect, that had its influence on him.

Hatty was in her seat before her father was at the table, and a pleased
smile crossed her face as she saw that Marcus had been using the clothes
brush, and combing his straight black hair off his high forehead.

The dinner hour was always a pleasant time at Mrs. Lee's, for then all
the family were together, and some interesting conversation was sure to
take place. Marcus was a restless boy, active in body and mind. He
enjoyed his father's society, and affected to think that he was the only
one in the family who was really a suitable companion for a boy of the
mature age of twelve!

Mr. Lee was a merchant; he had lately met with large losses, but he did
not allow himself to be saddened by misfortunes that left his home
untouched, and all his dear ones alive and well. Mr. Lee was a tall,
slender man, with a bright, expressive eye, and a large, pleasant mouth,
and his children thought him the handsomest man in Hyde, the large
inland town where he lived.

During the dinner-hour on the day about which we are writing, Mr. Lee
was talking of a plan for building an Orphan Asylum, about which the
citizens of Hyde were greatly interested.

Marcus listened to his father's remarks, and seemed to think himself
called upon to reply. He did so, and showed uncommon quickness and good
sense for a boy of his years in what he said. Mrs. Lee modestly made
some suggestions, which her husband thought particularly useful; but
Marcus' lip curled as his mother spoke, in a way which it was well for
him escaped his father's observation. After dinner, Mr. Lee was obliged
to hurry away, but not too soon to give Hatty a kiss, and to say to her