n which she had loved her mother, so she
must make the most of her opportunity to become a brilliant figure in
the world.

This opportunity, fortunately, was quite within sight. A path had
been opened before her feet by which she might walk to a higher rank
and position than even her extravagant dreams had led her to expect.

In the isolation of her narrow village life she had read in the
papers accounts of the English aristocracy; and to show off her
beauty in such an atmosphere, and be called by a titled name, had
fired her imagination to such a degree that her good mother had had
many a pang of fear for the future of her child.

When Bettina found herself alone, the one profound attachment of her
heart severed by death, she seemed to have no hope of relief from the
dire oppression of her position, save that which lay in the
possibilities of worldly enjoyment which might be in store for her if
she chose to accept them. These took the form of a definite
opportunity in the person of one whom her mother entirely trusted
and approved, and this in itself was enough for Bettina now. It was
little less than a marvellous prospect for a girl in her position,
but it had come about quite simply.

The rector of the church in the village where Mrs. Mowbray and her
daughter lived was an Englishman of good family, the Rev. Arthur
Spotswood by name. When his young relative, Horace Spotswood, who was
cousin and heir to Lord Hurdly, came to travel in America, it was but
natural that he should visit the rector in his home. Natural, too, it
was that he should there encounter Bettina Mowbray; and as he thought
her the most charming and most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and
as his affections were quite disengaged, it was almost a matter of
course that he should fall in love with her.

So aware of this was Bettina that when one morning she had met and
talked to the young fellow at the rectory, she wound up the account
of the meeting which she gave to her mother by saying, quite simply:

"He will ask me to marry him, mamma, and I shall say yes. So for a
short time I shall be Mrs. Horace Spotswood, the wife of a diplomat
at the Russian court, and ultimately I shall be Lady Hurdly, with a
London mansion, several country places, and one of the greatest
positions in English society."

"My child, my poor child!" said the mother, in a tone of distress,
"what is to be the end of your inordinate ambition for the things of
the world? Yo