aded and her niece missing that I think she inferred a
conspiracy or a burglar. At all events, Lily and I were summarily
dismissed. I have just seen Lily home."

"Lily Merrill is pretty, and I think she is a nice, lady-like girl,"
said Mrs. Ramsey, and she regarded her son more uneasily than before,
"but I don't like her mother, George."

"Why, what is the matter with Lily's mother?"

"She isn't genuine. Adeline Merrill was never genuine. She has always
had her selfish ends, and she has reached them by crooks and turns."

"I think Lily is genuine enough," said George, carelessly, putting
another lump of sugar in his cup of chocolate. "I have seen more
brilliant girls, but she is a beauty, and I think she is genuine."

"Well, perhaps she is," Mrs. Ramsey admitted. "I don't know her very
well, but I do know her mother. I know something now."

"What?"

"I know you don't like gossip, but if ever a woman was--I know it is
a vulgar expression--but if ever a woman was setting her cap for a
man, she is setting hers for Dr. Ellridge. She never goes anywhere
evenings, in the hope that he may call, and she sends for him when
there is nothing whatever the matter with her, if he doesn't. I know,
because Dr. Ellridge's wife's sister, Miss Emmons, who has kept house
for him since his wife died, told me so. He goes home and tells her,
and laughs, but I know she isn't quite sure that the doctor won't
marry her."

"Miss Emmons is jealous, perhaps," said George. "Perhaps Mrs. Merrill
is really ill."

"No, the doctor says she is not, and Miss Emmons is not jealous. She
told me that as far as she was concerned, although she would lose her
home, she should be glad to see the doctor married, if he chose a
suitable woman; but I don't think she likes Mrs. Merrill. I don't see
how anybody can like a woman who so openly proclaims her willingness
to marry a man before he has done her the honor to ask her. It seems
shameless to me."

"Perhaps she doesn't," George said again. Then he added, "It would be
rather hard for Lily if her mother did marry the doctor. He is a good
man enough, but with his own three girls, the oldest older than Lily,
she would have a hard time."

George looked quite sober, reflecting upon the possible sad lot of
poor Lily if her mother married the second time.

"Adeline Merrill wouldn't stop for such a thing as the feelings of
her own daughter, if she had her mind set on anything," said his
mother, in her soft