would be so
considered by a person accustomed to New York society."

"I do not know of a woman in New York who can boast of any such claims
to transcendent loveliness. Such faces are rare outside of art, Miss
Belinda; was Mrs. Fairchild a handsome woman?"

"She was my sister and if I may say so, my favorite sister, but she was
no more agreeable to the eye than some others of her family," grimly
returned the heavy browed spinster with a compression of her lips. "What
beauty Paula has inherited came from her father. Her chief charm in my
eyes, however, springs from her pure nature and the unselfish impulses
of her heart."

"And in mine," rejoined he quietly. Then with a sudden change of tone as
he realized the necessity of saying something definite to this woman in
regard to his intentions toward the child, he remarked, "Her great and
unusual talents and manifest disposition to learn, demand as you say,
superior advantages to any she can have in a small country town like
this, fruitful as it has already been to her under your wise and
fostering care and such shall she have; but just when and how I cannot
say till I have seen my wife and learned what her wishes are likely to
be in regard to the subject."

"You are very kind, sir," returned Miss Belinda. "I have no doubt as to
the good-will of your intentions, and the child shall be prepared at
once for a change."

"And will _the child_," he exclaimed with a smile as Paula re-entered
the room, "be so kind as to give me her company in the walk I must now
take to the cars?"

"Of course," replied her aunt before the young girl could speak, "we owe
you that much attention I am sure."

And so it was that when he came to retrace his way through the village
with its heavy memories, he had a guardian spirit at his side that
robbed them of their power to sadden and oppress.

"What shall I say for you to the grim, city streets when I get back?"
inquired he as they hastened on over the snow covered road.

"Say to them from me? O you may give them my greeting," she responded
half shyly, half confidingly. Evidently for her he was one of those rare
persons whose presence is perfect freedom and with whom she could not
only think her best but speak it also. "I should like to make their
acquaintance, but indeed they would have to do well to vie in attraction
with these white roads girded by their silver-limbed trees. The very
rush of life must seem oppressive. So many hopes, so m