s removing
the child's outer garments, smiling as ever, and with seeming
gentleness, but Maria had a conviction that her touch on the tender
flesh of the child was as the touch of steel. Little Evelyn struggled
to get to her sister when she saw her, but Ida held her firmly.

"Stand still, darling," she said. It was inconceivable how she could
say darling without the loving inflection which alone gave the word
its full meaning.

"Stand still and let mamma take off baby's things," said Harry, and
there was no lack of affectionate cadences in his voice. He privately
thought that he himself could have taken off the child's wraps better
than his wife, but he recognized her rights in the matter. Harry
remembering his first wife, with her child, was in a state of
constant bewilderment at the sight of his second with hers. He had
always had the masculine opinion that women, in certain primeval
respects, were cut on one pattern, and his opinion was being rudely
shaken.

"Call Emma, please," said Ida to Maria, and Maria obeyed.

When the maid came in, Ida directed her to take the child up-stairs
and put on another frock.

Maria was about to follow, but Harry stopped her. "Maria," said he.

Maria stopped, and eyed her father with surprise.

"Maria," said Harry, bluntly, "your mother and I have been talking
about your going away to school."

Maria turned slightly pale and continued to stare at him, but she
said nothing.

"She thinks, and I don't know but she is right," said Harry, with
painful loyalty, "that your associates here are not just the proper
ones for you, and that it would be much better for you to go to
boarding-school."

"How much would it cost?" asked Maria, in a dazed voice. The question
sounded like her own mother.

"Father can manage that; you need not trouble yourself about that,"
replied Harry, hurriedly.

"Where?" said Maria, then.

"To a nice school where your mother was educated."

"My mother?"

"Ida--to Wellbridge Hall."

"How often should I come home and see you and Evelyn? Every week?"

"I am afraid not, dear," said Harry, uneasily.

"How long are the terms?" asked Maria.

"Only about twelve weeks," said Ida.

Maria stood staring from one to the other. Her face had turned deadly
pale, and had, moreover, taken on an expression of despair and
isolation. Somehow, although the little girl was only a few feet from
the others, she had a look as if she were leagues off, as if she were