others, until I longed to ask them what right they had to
claim your whole life and leave you nothing--nothing--for yourself----"

"You mistake," she interrupted him quickly. "They leave me all I want;
and they were kind to me when I came amongst them--a penniless
child----"

"What does it matter if you were penniless?" said Brian. "Have you not
paid them a thousand times for all that they did for you?" Then, as she
looked at him with rather a singular expression in her eyes, he hastened
to explain. "I mean that you have given them your love, your care, your
time, in a way that no sister, no daughter, ever could have done! You
have taught the children all they know; you have sympathised with the
cares of every one in turn--I have watched you and seen it day by day!
And I say that even if you are penniless, as you say, you have repaid
them a thousand times for all that they have done; and that you are
wrong to let them take your time and your care, to the exclusion of your
own interests. I beg your pardon; I have said too much," he said,
breaking off suddenly, as the singular expression deepened upon her
musing face.

"No," she said, with a smile, "I like to hear it: go on. What ought I to
do?"

"Ah, that I cannot tell you. But I think you give yourself almost too
much to others. Surely, no one could object if you took a little time
from the interests of the rest of the family for your own pleasure, for
your studies, your amusements?"

"No," she answered, quietly, "I do not suppose they would."

She stood and looked into the fire, and the smile again crossed her
face.

"I have said more than I ought to have done," repeated Brian. "Forgive
me."

"I will forgive you for everything," she said, "except for thinking that
one can do too much for the people that one loves. I am sure that you do
not act upon that principle, Mr. Stretton."

"It can be carried to an extreme, like any other," said Mr. Stretton,
wisely.

"And you think I carry it to an extreme? Oh, no. I only do what it is a
pleasure to me to do. Think of the situation: an orphaned, penniless
girl--that is what you have said to yourself is it not----?"

"Yes," said Brian, wondering a little at the keen inquiry in her eyes as
she paused for the reply. The questioning look was lost in a lovely
smile as she proceeded; she cast down her eyes to hide the expression of
pleasure and amusement that his words had caused.

"An orphaned, penniless girl, then, c